A groundbreaking celebration for the Red River Biorefinery was held Wednesday in Grand Forks. The new 80,000 square foot facility will convert more than 500,000 metric tons per year of locally sourced agricultural byproducts and feedstocks into biofuels. BioMass Solution Principal Jacek Chmielewski says the plant will benefit local businesses and agriculture. “The plant will produce 16.5 million gallons per year of very low carbon advanced ethanol.” The byproducts will come primarily from sugarbeets, potatoes and pasta. American Crystal Sugar Company CEO and President Tom Astrup says the plant is a positive move. “I think we have a great long-term partnership with these folks who have an exciting vision to take that agricultural waste product and turn it into fuel.” The facility is expected to be up and running by the end of 2019 or early 2020.
