SG Preston to Establish Ohio Waste-to-Diesel Plant

Bioenergy firm SG Preston is developing a waste-to-diesel facility in Ohio at a cost of $400 million.

The Philadelphia-based SG Preston said it will develop a 120 million gallon renewable diesel facility in Lawrence County, Ohio. The SGP South Point facility should be completed in 2017 and will be the world’s largest purpose-built producer of renewable diesel, according to a news release. The facility will employ 100.

A key part of the facility is SG Preston’s licensing of advanced process technology that converts waste feedstock into renewable diesel, which can be used in vehicles with no modifications. The technology also allows SG Preston to customize its biofuel by adjusting fuel characteristics to various operating environments, such as extreme heat or cold.

SG Preston converts low carbon waste, such as wood, oil and grease.

Partners in the project include the Lawrence County Economic Development Council, which is investing 62 acres in land and other incentives. The Appalachian Partnership for Economic Growth and JobsOhio helped secure the investment and technology.

"For SG Preston, this is an important milestone and part of a larger vision of partnering with leading, global refining technology partners and local communities to develop a portfolio of renewable diesel and renewable jet fuel refineries targeting 1.2 billion gallons per year, or 20 percent of the federal RFS2 biomass-based mandate for biofuels," said R. Delbert LeTang, CEO of SG Preston.