Cargill fined $100,000 by Iowa for illegal waste dumping at biodiesel plant

In Iowa, the state government has fined Cargill $100,000 for environmental violations at the Iowa Falls biodiesel plant. Violations included spreading waste on land, but now is in compliance. The state attorney-general filed suit, but settled with Cargill shortly after filing. In the agreement, Cargill agreed to prevent future violations at its four Iowa plants.

In Kansas last month, Cargill canceled plans to construct a 100 Mgy corn ethanol plant near Topeka, citing tough economic conditions. The proposed plant had been in the permitting stage with no construction yet underway.

Emerald Renewable Energy, a Cargill subsidiary, had run into tough opposition for its proposed 100 Mgy ethanol plant in Shawnee County. Nearly all 29 speakers at a public hearing opposed the plant, which would release 300 to 400 tons of emissions per year, equivalent to the emissions of 50-70 cars. The proposed plant would also have produced 330,000 tons of distillery grains, use 1.2 million gallons of water per day, and create 40 jobs.

Cargill continues to expand its biofuels capabilities, despite the step-back from corn ethanol capacity expansion. Monsanto and Cargill have joint ventured in a company called Renessen that will extract corn oil from corn kernels prior to conversion to ethanol. The Eddyville-based company said that the process will improve cycle time for ethanol production, produce a superior brand of distiller’s grains, and produce a corn oil product that will be refined by Cargill for use in food products. The livestock feed will be branded Epro for cattle and Ecorn for hogs.

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