Biodiesel plant to refine soybean oil as fuel slated for East Toledo

4/20/2006

A $17 million plant that will refine soybean oil for use as diesel fuel will be built in East Toledo starting this summer and begin production by year s end, city and company officials announced this afternoon.

The American Biodiesel, LLC plant will be designed to produce 30 million gallons annually and employ 20 to 25 people at 1820 Fro nt St., near I-280. It will be built on the site of what is now a warehouse at Delta Fuels, a diesel fuel blender and distributor on Front Street.

Along with marketing B-100, or 100 percent biodiesel, American will provide its product to Delta for blending with regular petroleum-based diesel fuel. The blending facility will be the first of its kind in Ohio.

Renewable energy is absolutely critical to America s future, Mayor Carty Finkbeiner said during a news conference at Government Center announcing the project. This will allow Toledo to get in the forefront of an innovative and vital industry, he said.

John DiMartini, president of Delta Fuels, predicted that the biodiesel and blends will be an overnight success because he already has customers who want the fuel and can t find it.

Read more in later editions of The Blade and toledoblade.com.