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The Dreaded Bankruptcy

Posted: February 2, 2009 at 12:55 PM CST

Managing Editor Jessica Sobolik takes over blog duties for Dave Nilles this week while he attends the National Biodiesel Conference in San Francisco.

When I got into the office this morning, I learned the sad news about Renew Energy LLC filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The company operated two ethanol plants in Jefferson and Utica, Wis., utilizing a fractionation process that created some unique end products.

It was probably the reason I received two reader e-mails asking EPM for a list of bankrupt ethanol plants. In case anyone else was looking for the same thing, I have pasted the list below.

It’s tough to look at a list like this, but I certainly believe these economic conditions won’t last and the ethanol industry isn’t going to go away. This situation may even make the industry stronger in the long run. Along these lines, I would recommend reading one of our latest Web exclusives written by Staff Writer and Plant List Manager Bryan Sims, who talked with a managing partner for CRG Partners LLC about ways to survive Chapter 11 bankruptcy. This story reminded me that bankruptcy isn’t the end of a plant, and I think that message gets lost very easily in the mass media. Find it at www.ethanolproducer.com/article.jsp?article_id=5304.

Chapter 11 bankruptcy:
1. E3 Biofuels LLC
2. Gateway Ethanol LLC
3. Greater Ohio Ethanol LLC
4. Northeast Biofuels LLC
5. Panda Ethanol Hereford LP
6. Pine Lake Corn Processors LP
7. Renew Energy LLC
8. VeraSun Albert City LLC
9. VeraSun Albion LLC
10. VeraSun Bloomingburg LLC
11. VeraSun Central City LLC
12. VeraSun Dyersville LLC
13. VeraSun Hankinson LLC
14. VeraSun Janesville LLC
15. VeraSun Linden LLC
16. VeraSun Marion LLC
17. VeraSun Ord LLC
18. VeraSun Welcome LLC
19. VeraSun Woodbury LLC

-Jessica Sobolik