Inland Empire Oilseeds sells first batch of refined biodiesel

Inland Empire Oilseeds has sold its first batch of refined biodiesel to a Portland distributor, General Manager Steve Starr said.

He said the plant in Odessa, Lincoln County, began refining canola oil into biodiesel in November, then awaited certification of the fuel's quality before proceeding with the 33,000-gallon sale.

The plant, which will soon include a crusher, will restart next week using another 35,000 gallons in canola-based oil already in storage, Starr said.

He said the plant can produce 8 million gallons of biodiesel annually using seed or seed oil from Washington and neighboring states. Until area growers plant more canola, a winter crop, the refinery will process oil shipped from elsewhere, he said, noting the plant is on the BNSF Railway main line.

Starr said the plant's crusher will begin operations in June. The joint refinery-crusher, one of few in the country, will employ 19 at full capacity, he said.

The facility was built with the help of $4.2 million in bioenergy loans from the state Department of Agriculture. Area grower groups, private investors and Avista are the owners.

An Avista spokeswoman said the company bought a 1 percent stake in Oilseeds to support alternative fuels and economic growth in Odessa.