Four POET Biorefining plants will receive the 2009 Union Pacific Chemical Transportation Safety Pinnacle Award, the railroad company has announced.

The Pinnacle Award recognizes UP customers that have had no incidents of chemicals releases, known as non-accident releases, from rail cars for the year as well as successful prevention and corrective plans.

POET Biorefining facilities in Ashton, Jewell and Emmetsburg, Iowa as well as POET Biorefining – Hudson, S.D. will receive the award. UP will make the award at a banquet on April 23.

“Safety is a top priority at POET, and we are pleased to receive this award from our partners at Union Pacific,” POET CEO Jeff Broin said. “We constantly work to make ethanol production and transportation even safer and more efficient, and these plants have developed a phenomenal track record in that regard.”

Criteria for the award include safe loading techniques, securement of shipments and zero non-accident releases.

“The Pinnacle Award gives Union Pacific the chance to acknowledge and thank our customers for their continuing efforts to eliminate chemical releases from rail cars,” said Diane Duren, vice president and general manager - chemicals. “We work closely with all customers to help prevent an accidental release during transit of chemical shipments and jointly demonstrate a commitment to the safe transportation of hazardous materials.”

About POET
POET, the largest ethanol producer in the world, is a leader in biorefining through its efficient, vertically integrated approach to production. The 20-year-old company produces more than 1.54 billion gallons of ethanol annually from 26 production facilities nationwide. POET recently started up a pilot-scale cellulosic ethanol plant, which uses corn cobs as feedstock, and will commercialize the process in 2011. For more information, visit www.poet.com.