Sioux Falls, SD - Approximately 1,200 Gowrie, Iowa-area residents attended the May 25, 2006, Grand Opening celebration for the new $80 million Frontier Ethanol, LLC, the 100th ethanol plant to begin operations in the United States.

The plant, which will produce 60 million gallons of ethanol annually from 21 million bushels of corn, is the 23rd ethanol plant built by Broin Companies, which provides turnkey development, design, engineering, construction, management, and marketing services for their premier partner plants.

"We’ve hit the century mark with this plant," said Monte Shaw with the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association. "The U.S. ethanol industry is blessed to have companies like Broin, and it’s very exciting to think what the next 100 ethanol plants will bring us."

During an hour-long program at the new facility, guests learned more about the 40 new jobs and $1.8 million annual payroll that will be created by the new plant. Letters were read from Senators Charles Grassley and Tom Harkin, and guest speakers included State Senator Daryl Beall, State Representative David Tjepkes, local government members, ethanol industry advocates, and Broin Companies officials highlighting the advantages of the plant to area agriculture and the local economy.

"This region is gaining one of the most technologically advanced, environmentally friendly ethanol plants in the nation," said Jeff Broin, CEO of Broin Companies. "It will bring tens of millions of dollars to the regional economy for many years to come."

The plant, which is located north of Gowrie, will also produce 178,000 tons of Dakota Gold Enhanced Nutrition Distillers Products™ for regional, national, and international markets. The plant incorporates Broin Companies’ revolutionary BPX™ technology, which increases ethanol yield per bushel, lowers energy input requirements, and lowers plant emissions.

"This plant will be the envy of the ethanol industry," said Brian Jennings with the American Coalition for Ethanol. "It uses some of the most efficient technology available from one of the most successful ethanol companies in the country."

Producing more ethanol is a key step in reducing America’s addiction to foreign oil, said State Senator Daryl Beall. "There are no losers with ethanol, only winners, including farmers, consumers, Iowa’s environment, Iowa’s economy, and our national security as we become less reliant on foreign oil."

Frontier Ethanol will fuel economic growth throughout the region, noted Bill Anderson on behalf of U.S. Senator Charles Grassley. It will also contribute to an expanding ethanol industry that used more than 14% of the U.S. corn crop in 2005, noted Broin, whose family built their first plant in the 1980s on the family farm in Minnesota. "Right here in the Gowrie area, Frontier Ethanol will use 21 million bushels of corn raised on 130,000 acres of local land--that’s 200 square miles of Iowa corn."

The Broin Companies’ dedication to research and development makes Frontier Ethanol a leader in renewable energy, noted State Representative David Tjepkes. "Iowa, which is known for feeding much of the world, will soon be known for fueling much of the world."

As Frontier Ethanol becomes Iowa’s 25th ethanol refinery, Iowa already produces more ethanol than it consumes, Shaw noted. Other Broin Companies’ ethanol plants currently operating in Iowa include Tall Corn Ethanol in Coon Rapids, Iowa Ethanol, LLC, in Hanlontown, Otter Creek Ethanol in Ashton, Voyager Ethanol, LLC, in Emmetsburg, and Horizon Ethanol, LLC, in Jewell.

"Frontier Ethanol is a milestone for Iowa and the nation," said John Moreland on behalf of U.S. Senator Tom Harkin. "Let’s keep building on this success."

Prior to the ceremony, which included a ribbon cutting, the Vanguard Squadron, with four 100% ethanol-powered airplanes, entertained the crowd with an aerobatic flyover. Plant tours held throughout the morning and afternoon allowed attendees an up-close view of the plant and the ethanol production process.

On display and attracting lots of attention was an Indy Racing League® (IRL) Team Ethanol IndyCar®. Team Ethanol Indy Racing is sponsored by many industry organizations, including the Broin Companies as a title sponsor. The team promotes ethanol as a high-performance fuel that is clean-burning, renewable, and made in America. The IndyCar Series’ support for ethanol reinforces the product as a premier performance fuel. In 2006, the series is burning a 10% ethanol blend fuel. In 2007, the cars will use 100% ethanol.

"I’m very excited for Frontier Ethanol to go from a vision to a reality," said Dale Calendine, general manager of Frontier Ethanol. "Ethanol is on the cutting edge of renewable fuels, and we’re excited to be part of the future."