For more information contact:
Bob Welch – The Welch Group
608-819-0150
Jefferson Junction, WI – Jefferson Grain Processors, LLC (JGP) today announced that it has signed a letter of intent to purchase Cargill Malt of Jefferson. JGP plans to invest over $200 million into converting the malting plant on the 375 acre site into a multi-use facility including an ethanol plant, a tilapia fish farm, and an electric co-generation component. These changes will nearly double the previous Cargill employment – adding 150 new jobs to the local economy.
Upon completion, JGP will produce 140 million gallons of ethanol per year, making it nearly three times larger than any other Wisconsin ethanol plant. It will handle nearly 70 million bushels per year of corn, wheat, and soybeans in its grain storage facility.
Other byproducts of the ethanol distilling process will include 350,000 tons per year of liquid CO2 (to be sold to the food industry), and 425,000 tons per year of high protein corn gluten feed, much of which will be exported to countries like China.
The company is also exploring the production of food grade corn oil as part of the process.
The malting platforms in the plant will be turned into the largest tilapia fish farm in the United States, producing over 8 million pounds per year of fresh filets. The fish will be processed on site, adding to the employment impact.
The plans also include a food by-product recycling operation which will produce 20 million gallons per year of bio-diesel fuel. And the heat used to fire the plant’s processes will be better utilized by the creation of a 55 MgW Electric Co-Generation facility.
The plant will rely heavily on the existing railroad line to the north, ensuring that the line will not be abandoned.
The environmental impact of the converted facility will actually be much less than that of the previous malting plant. Only one-third as much water will be used than is being currently pumped from the existing wells, and the air permit will show a significant reduction in air emissions and odor.
“This is great news for the people of Jefferson County,” said State Representative David Ward (R-Fort Atkinson). “We all feared the worst when Cargill announced their shut down. This new facility has the potential to create even more jobs, as well as provide another market for our county’s agricultural producers.”
Jefferson County Board Chair Sharon Schmeling added, “I’m excited by this opportunity to expand our economy. The company has already been a very good partner in coming to the county to help put this together.”
