West Central Co-Op

Company History: West Central Cooperative of Ralston, Iowa has a goal to create extra value for their members and customers. It was the search for innovative, value-added products and processes that led West Central Soy, West Central Cooperative's soy processing division, to methyl ester processing and biodiesel production. Iowa's first soy biodiesel production plant began producing biodiesel at West Central's Soy Center in Ralston in 1996. West Central believed there was tremendous growth potential for environmentally preferred cleaners and alternative fuels like biodiesel.
Renewable energy Group, Inc. (REG) was founded in 2002 with the formation of a partnership between West Central Soy and engineering and construction company Todd & Sargent, Inc. of Ames, Iowa, along with an alliance with process equipment builder Crown Iron Works of Minneapolis, Minnisota. West Central's previous success in biodiesel production at its Ralston plant, along with Todd & Sargent's many years experience in the development of commercial-scale biodiesel facilities, provided the strong foundation for this relatively unique venture that has capitalized on replicating a successful model again and again. The two companies had worked together prior to the formation of REG; todd & Sargent had, in fact, built West Central's Ralston plant.

Successor/Parent History: REG got its start in biomass-based diesel two decades ago while operating under the umbrella of West Central Cooperative in Ralston, Iowa, USA. REG has since grown into a leading advanced biofuels producer and renewable chemicals company, selling products through ​an international distribution and logistics system. We will continue to broaden our footprint through a global focus, continuous innovation and an expanding product portfolio.

In 1998, West Central began to market SoyPOWER brand premium biodiesel fuel. In August of 2006, Renewable Energy Group, Inc. was formed as an independent corporation.

Brief History: The U.S. is a country of 50 states covering a vast swath of North America, with Alaska in the northwest and Hawaii extending the nation’s presence into the Pacific Ocean. Major Atlantic Coast cities are New York, a global finance and culture center, and capital Washington, DC. Midwestern metropolis Chicago is known for influential architecture and on the west coast, Los Angeles' Hollywood is famed for filmmaking.