Acadiana Business

Fowl fuel goes online at La. plant

by Walter Pierce

Tyson and Syntroleum Corporation announced Monday that operations are under way at their joint-venture Dynamic Fuels plant in Geismer, which is converting animal fats and grease into high quality renewable diesel fuel.

Tyson Foods, the nation's biggest purveyor of chicken, beef and pork products - and the second largest in the world - generates a lot of fat and grease. Now those processing byproducts are being put to good use at a plant south of Baton Rouge.

Tyson and Syntroleum Corporation announced Monday that operations are under way at their joint-venture Dynamic Fuels plant in Geismer, which is converting animal fats and grease into high quality renewable diesel fuel. This renewable fuel has a carbon footprint 75 percent below that of petroleum diesel, according to company officials. Much of the research and development of the fuel has been done in coordination with the United States military, including a jet fuel that is being tested by the Air Force Research Laboratory. The plant began production in early October and is now producing 2,500 barrels per day.

The companies say the plant is also producing renewable specialty distillate products for applications in dry cleaning, drilling fluids and ink cartridges.

Read more in The Wall Street Journal's Market Watch.