GARNETT — The East Kansas Agri-Energy ethanol plant at Garnett has started an expansion that allow it to produce bio-diesel. The expansion will create an estimated 12 to 15 new jobs when it goes on-line next fall, EKAE chief executive officer Jeff Oestmann said. The company will invest between $12 million and $16 million for the project. The ethanol plant expansion will produce diesel fuel from corn distillers oil, which is already produced at the plant. It will also be able to use other oil such as oybean oil, animal fat and grease, and so-called “yellow” grease, which is waste collected from commercial restaurants and other cooking facilities. That flexibility will allow the plant to use whichever is cheapest at any given time to produce diesel, or whether to sell its own corn oil or use it for diesel production, he said.
Tuesday, Dec. 2, 11 a.m.
