Contact: Cassidy Walter
515-322-0435

FARLEY, IOWA – Western Dubuque Biodiesel recently came one step closer to providing monarch butterflies with vital habitat on plant grounds by seeding the biodiesel plant’s Monarch Fueling Station.

The seed mixture consisted of native grasses and other plants that attract pollinators, including a special emphasis on milkweed plants. Milkweed is the only plant monarchs can lay their eggs on.

“Biodiesel production is all about finding ways to repurpose,” said Western Dubuque Biodiesel General Manager Tom Brooks. “Biodiesel plants across the country repurpose excess soybean oil and other animal and vegetable fats into fuel. It is in that same spirit that we are repurposing some of our land to help fuel monarch butterflies passing through Iowa.”

Western Dubuque Biodiesel began prepping their three-acre Monarch Fueling Station last summer with help from Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) Habitat Establishment Coordinator Kevin Reynolds.

“Seeding their habitat is an exciting next step,” Reynolds said. “It will take time for the plants to develop a root system and reach their full growth potential but there is no doubt that Western Dubuque Biodiesel is well on their way to contributing to state-wide efforts to boost monarch butterfly habitat.”

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 patches of 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.

Western Dubuque Biodiesel staff seed the biodiesel plant’s three-acre Monarch Fueling Station.

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.

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