Contact: Cassidy Walter
515-252-6249

JOHNSTON, IOWA – Today Renewable Energy Group (REG) announced it is establishing a Monarch Fueling Station at its plant near Newton.

The monarch habitat will span roughly one and half acres. The biorefinery will start the process by spraying to eradicate non-native grasses this summer and again this fall. A dormant seeding of native plants and milkweed this November will follow the fall spraying.

“Creating our Monarch Fueling Station is a great project that REG Newton is proud to be adding to our facility,” said Plant Manager Phil Abels. “Protecting the environment is what REG does every day and providing habitat for pollinators is something all of us at REG Newton can get excited about and participate in. This effort is a great way to make an immediate impact on preserving the longevity of Iowa’s wildlife.”

The location and size of the plot was decided in consultation with Kevin Reynolds, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association’s (IRFA) Habitat Establishment Coordinator.

“Phil and his team at REG Newton are passionate about this project,” Reynolds said. “I look forward to seeing their Monarch Fueling Station grow and make a difference for the monarch butterfly.”

The Monarch Fueling Station Project was established by IRFA in partnership with the Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium in December 2017. It is a program to help Iowa’s ethanol and biodiesel plants establish monarch habitat on plant grounds. To learn more about the IRFA Monarch Fueling Station Project, contact IRFA at info@IowaRFA.org or 515-252-6249.

The designated area for REG Newton’s Monarch Fueling Station is outlined in red.

Kevin Reynolds (left), Plant Manager Phil Abels (right), and Office Coordinator Elisa Williams (center) stand at the REG Newton Monarch Fueling Station site.

The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association represents the state’s liquid renewable fuels industry and works to foster its growth. Iowa is the nation’s leader in renewable fuels production with 43 ethanol refineries capable of producing over 4.5 billion gallons annually – including 34 million gallons of annual cellulosic ethanol production capacity – and 11 biodiesel facilities with the capacity to produce nearly 400 million gallons annually. For more information, visit the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association website at: www.IowaRFA.org.