PCAD - Imperium Renewables Incorporated Biodiesel Refinery, Grays Harbor, WA

West First Street
Grays Harbor, WA

OpenStreetMap (new tab)

Google Map (new tab)

Located in the between Aberdeen and Hoquiam, WA, on the Port of Grays Harbor; site bounded by Industrial Road on the north, Fry Creek on the west, West First Street on the east, and by the Chehalis River on the south.

John Plaza, founder of Imperium Renewable, planned the Grays Harbor, WA, facility to be the largest biodiesel refinery in the U.S. when built in 2007; it was expected to produce 100 million gallons of biodiesel fuel per year, some of it derived from canola. Construction was set to be completed in the second quarter of 2007. Imperium expected to open four bio-diesel fuel production plants by 2009, in Grays Harbor, WA, Barbers Point, HI, Argentina, and the northeastern U.S.

In 2008, Imperium Renewables was in financial difficulty, caused by the high price of the vegetable oil the company transformed into biodiesel. In 06/2008, Imperium disclosed that most of its biodiesel production was shipped to Europe where it could command a higher price. The firm in 10/2008 reported $213 million in equity and debt, and cancelled an initial public offering of stock worth $345 million. Many lay-offs occurred at this time.

PCAD id: 7744

Publications

Geranios, Nicholas K., "A legal boost for biofuels", Seattle Post-Intelligencer, C2, 01/29/2007. Cook, John, "Biodiesel company gets huge infusion", Seattle Post-Intelligencer, E1, E6, 02/23/2007. "Alternative Energy Imperium trims corporate office", Seattle Times, C1, 07/31/2008. Thompson, Lynn, ""Growing our own energy": It's local, renewable, clean", Seattle Times, A1, A10, 09/24/2008. Gonzalez, Angel, "$18 million pumps up Imperium prospects", Seattle Times, A19, A21, 10/17/2008.