News Release - McLain Farms and Foothills Bio-Energies Working Together

McLain Farms and Foothills Bio-Energies have recently entered into a collaborative arrangement to process oil from locally grown oilseed crops into biodiesel fuel.

McLain Farms, located in Iredell County, implemented expeller-crush equipment and facilities into their operations in 2008 to process locally grown canola, sunflower, and soybeans into high-quality meals and oils. The meals are available to local milling and livestock operations, offsetting current statewide deficits for protein meals. The oils can be used for biodiesel, adding value to the farm and agricultural lands.

Foothills Bio-Energies, located in Caldwell County and operational since 2006, is a regional biodiesel refinery using locally produced feedstock such as vegetable oils and poultry fat to produce ASTM quality biodiesel fuel.

Biodiesel is the only renewable fuel which meets EPA Health Effects Testing and also has a significant positive energy balance (3.2:1). Using existing agricultural lands to augment and satisfy local food needs while using the oil as feedstock for biodiesel is a sustainable and food-friendly energy and economic model.

Working together, McLain Farms and Foothills Bio-Energies look forward to helping North Carolina achieve its goals of reducing imported energy sources while supporting sustainable economic development in rural communities.

For further information, please contact Phil McLain at 704-876-6667 or Randy Dellinger at 828-759-7101.