Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy Llc
Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy, LLC, located in Council Bluffs, Iowa, was
formed in March 2005, operates a 140 million gallon capacity ethanol plant and
began producing ethanol in February 2009. The Company sells its ethanol distillers
grains, corn syrup, and corn oil in the continental United States, Mexico and
the Pacific Rim.
Our production facility is located in Pottawattamie County in southwestern
Iowa, south of Council Bluffs. It is near two major interstate highways, I29
and I80, within a mile of the Missouri River and has access to five major rail
carriers. This location is in close proximity to a significant amount of corn
and has convenient product market access. The Facility receives corn and chemical
deliveries primarily by truck and is able to utilize rail delivery if necessary.
Finished products are shipped by rail and truck. The site has access to water
from ground wells and from the Missouri River. Additionally, in close proximity
to the Facility’s primary energy source (steam), there are two natural
gas providers available, both with infrastructure immediately accessible to
the Facility.
Ethanol
Our primary product is ethanol. Ethanol is ethyl alcohol, a fuel component made
primarily from corn and various other grains, which can be used as: (i) an octane
enhancer in fuels; (ii) an oxygenated fuel additive for the purpose of reducing
ozone and carbon monoxide vehicle emissions; and (iii) a non-petroleum-based
gasoline substitute. More than 99% of all ethanol produced in the United States
is used in its primary form for blending with unleaded gasoline and other fuel
products. The principal purchasers of ethanol are generally wholesale gasoline
marketers or blenders. Ethanol is shipped by truck in the local markets, and
by rail in the regional, national and international markets.
Distillers Grain
The principal co-product of the ethanol production process is distillers grains,
a high protein, high-energy animal feed marketed primarily to the beef and dairy
industries. Distillers grains contain by-pass protein that is superior to other
protein supplements such as cottonseed meal and soybean meal.. We produce two
forms of distillers grains: wet distillers grains with solubles (“WDGS”)
and dried distillers grains with solubles (“DDGS”). WDGS are processed
corn mash that has been dried to approximately 50% to 65% moisture. WDGS have
a shelf life of approximately seven days and are sold to local markets. DDGS
are processed corn mash that has been dried to approximately 10% to 12% moisture.
It has a longer shelf life and may be sold and shipped to any market.
Corn Oil
Our system separates corn oil from the post-fermentation syrup stream as it
leaves the evaporators of the ethanol plant. The corn oil is then routed to
storage tanks, and the remaining concentrated syrup is routed to the plant’s
syrup tank. Corn oil can be marketed as either a feed additive or a biodiesel
feedstock.