From Jeff Oestmann, CEO and General Manager, Soy Energy, LLC:
“We are grateful no one was injured in the fire that took place at the Soy Energy plant yesterday. We are still investigating the exact cause, but know it originated in a tank inside a restricted area. Our employees initiated a phenomenal response. They followed their training to the letter, evacuating the building safely and immediately notifying the fire department. We believe we have put into place the most highly skilled, experienced workers that make up the Soy Energy team, and I’m very proud of the professionalism with which they handled the situation.
“We have called together a team of experts who are at the plant today to investigate what may have caused the incident. We are also working proactively with local officials and the fire department to determine the cause, and thank them for their quick response. Damage was minimal, essentially limited to one tank.
After the investigation is complete and the tank repaired, we should be back up and running.
“Biodiesel is the safest fuel to use, handle and store. However, the production process does involve hazardous chemicals, like methanol, which is why it should only be produced by trained workers in a commercial setting. Safety is our first priority, and we are in the final stages of becoming an accredited plant under the biodiesel industry’s voluntary BQ-9000 quality assurance program. We want to reassure the community that our plant is a safe, state-of-the-art facility. We provide 40 jobs, making valuable contributions to the area economy as well as our nation’s energy security.”
-Jeff Oestmann, CEO and General Manager, Soy Energy, LLC
