Washington, DC – The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) today congratulates VeraSun Energy on celebrating the ribbon-cutting and open house at their newest facility in Albion, Nebraska. VeraSun Albion is a 110 million gallon per year ethanol biorefinery that will use 39 million bushels of corn to produce ethanol and 350,000 tons of distillers grains annually.

“Nebraska’s residents have long understood the economic, environmental and security benefits of a strong domestic ethanol industry, and their legislators have helped set the stage for ethanol and other biofuels to contribute to our nation’s energy security. Today’s celebrations reflect their continued commitment to help decrease America’s dangerous dependence on foreign oil from increasingly hostile sources. On behalf of the more than 300 member companies of the RFA, I congratulate VeraSun Energy and the Albion community for helping ensure a stronger energy and environmental future.”

The Albion facility began production in October 2007, helping to push VeraSun’s production capacity to over one billion gallons per year. VeraSun is now one of the largest ethanol producers in the United States. The facility will add an estimated 168 new jobs and $31.7 million in new economic activity to the surrounding Albion community.

Currently, 147 ethanol biorefineries nationwide have a capacity to produce more than 8.5 billion gallons annually. Additionally, 55 construction projects and 6 expansions are underway that will add an additional 5 billion gallons of new production capacity.