Valero Renewable Fuels Company, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE: VLO), and the Ports of Indiana hosted Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann and other state and local officials today at a Port Appreciation and Welcome Celebration commemorating the restart of the recently purchased Mount Vernon ethanol plant.
“The opening of Valero’s ethanol facility at the Port of Indiana-Mount Vernon is another economic development win for the State of Indiana,” Ellspermann said. “When the tenth largest company in the U.S. decides to make such a large investment right here in Indiana, the company is confirming that we have a great business climate that includes our strong agriculture industry and our multimodal transportation infrastructure. Not only is Valero developing a partnership with the Ports of Indiana on this project, but the company is also making a significant commitment to support Mount Vernon and the entire Southwest Indiana community.”
The Mount Vernon plant is the 11th corn ethanol plant in Valero Renewables’ system and its second in Indiana. It has an annual production capacity of 110 million gallons and uses Delta-T technology, similar to the process already in use at Valero Renewables’ ethanol plant in Jefferson, Wis.
Adding the Mount Vernon location gives Valero more than 1.3 billion gallons per year in ethanol production. The plant had been shut down for approximately two years, but Valero Renewables resumed production at the site earlier this month and now employs around 65 full-time workers there.
“We pride ourselves in our operations and being a positive impact to the community,” said Martin Parrish, Senior Vice President, Valero Renewable Fuels Company LLC and a Corporate Vice President at Valero. “I’m confident you will find that our actions back this up.”
To prove the point, Parrish presented a donation of $20,000 on behalf of the Valero Energy Foundation to the United Way of Posey County to mark the beginning of Valero’s impact in the area.
The Mount Vernon plant’s logistical advantages include ready access to corn suppliers as well as strong rail, truck and barge transportation. The plant is at the Port of Indiana-Mount Vernon on a location leased from Ports of Indiana, the state port authority. That relationship will continue.
“Valero’s team recognized there are considerable strategic advantages for the production and distribution of ethanol at an Ohio River port,” said Ports of Indiana CEO Rich Cooper. “Valero’s investment into this facility creates significant economic impacts in Southwest Indiana and throughout our state. We’re pleased to welcome this world-class company to our port family of businesses.”