New construction underway at POET Biorefining’s plant in Laddonia will increase its ethanol production by 10 million gallons a year, fed by an additional 3 million bushels of local corn.
Work on …
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![POET Biorefining in Laddonia will increase its production by 10 million gallons a year once its expanded facility goes into operation later this year. [Nathan Lilley]](https://epsilon.creativecirclecdn.com/mexicoledger/original/20210723-135644-poet2.jpg)
New construction underway at POET Biorefining’s plant in Laddonia will increase its ethanol production by 10 million gallons a year, fed by an additional 3 million bushels of local corn.
Work on the new facility began after the Thanksgiving holiday. It is expected to be completed this summer.
“We’re pretty excited,” said POET general manager Steve Murphy. “This has been on the wish list for awhile.”
When the new addition becomes operational, it will bring the company’s annual haul of local corn to 25 million bushels.
“This is the biggest project we’ve done,” Murphy added. “This will fill out the site.”
POET opened its Laddonia operation in 2006. Since then, the company has expanded even further. New plants in Marion, Ohio and Shelbyville, Ind., bring the Sioux Falls-based company to 28 production sites in seven states.
The company began as an experiment by Jeff Broin on the family farm in Wanamingo, Minn. Broin opened POET’s first plant in South Dakota in 1987. The company has increased ethanol production every year since it began operations, with the exception of 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic put a damper on travel.
Even before the expansion project at the Laddonia facility, POET was ready to take in more corn. They extended receiving hours during the week and opened the receiving bays on Saturday, as well.
The Laddonia site has the capacity to store 30 days worth of corn.
“As we work off our bank, we continue to purchase corn,” Murphy explained.
They will take in over 2 million bushels each month.
POET hired two people for the Laddonia plant. They will be fully trained by the time the expanded site is in operation.
