
Montana Renewables (MRL), the leading independent producer of renewable fuels in the US, announced today that it intends to build additional water treatment capacity at its Great Falls, Montana facility. This project will allow MRL to manage agricultural wash water, a byproduct of its production process, without shipping water to third-party locations.
“As we continue to deliver significant economic and employment opportunities for the Great Falls region and for Montana agriculture, we also play a key role in America First Agricultural and Energy Dominance,” said Bruce Fleming, CEO, Montana Renewables. “The planned addition to existing onsite water treatment will deliver sustainable, science-based water solutions that comply with regulatory standards while keeping the natural resources and economics within Montana.”
An ordinary part of MRL’s operation includes washing renewable feedstocks (canola oil, corn oil, etc.) before those oils are used to produce renewable fuels. The same approach is used by the food industry in preparing the same vegetable oils for the supermarket shelf. The resulting non-hazardous wash water is safely disposed of at permitted out-of-state facilities. This includes shipping of water by truck and rail.
“As we expand our production, onsite water treatment is a logical improvement that serves MRL and Montana,” said Fleming.
A loan from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is enabling MRL to expand its domestic renewable fuel production and create jobs, under which DOE approval is required before construction can begin on the additional water treatment capacity.