With a nod toward the state’s soybean farmers, Alabama’s first renewable diesel facility has opened.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony at Vertex Energy’s Mobile refinery was attended by Gov. Kay Ivey, elected and company officials.
“We’re not just cutting ribbons; we’re cutting emissions,” said Benjamin P. Cowart, CEO of the Houston-based company. “We’re also carving a new path for this site, this city, and the great state of Alabama.
“The opportunity to bring this kind of innovation to my hometown and the great state of Alabama is incredibly meaningful.”
After acquiring a conventional fuels refinery in Mobile from Shell, Vertex began a $115 million conversion of the refinery. The company said its long term goal was to create a cleaner and more sustainable alternative to standard petroleum called renewable diesel.
Producing renewable diesel is primarily through soybean oil, although the new facility is capable of using other organic waste oils for producing the energy as well.
Soybean farmers in Alabama and across the country are set to benefit from the company’s use of the crop by strengthening the local agricultural sector and will promote a stable transition to more renewable energy sources.
“By sourcing feedstock locally within our own state, Vertex fosters economic growth opportunities from farm-to-facility and offers low-carbon fuel products that contribute to a cleaner environment, not only here in our beautiful Alabama, but across the nation where these products are sold,” Ivey said.
During the upgrading process of the refinery, the Houston-based company worked with Mobile-area engineering firms and local contractors. The project generated $4 million in local workforce spending and created 600 construction jobs.
Vertex said it will be able to support and keep more than 200 jobs in Alabama and grow employment by 5%.
“I believe this is just the beginning, as we progress on our commitment to a cleaner environment by creating a sustainable growth path for the energy transition,” Cowart said.
Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News
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