Redfield Ethanol Plant To Change Gears

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The biofuels company Gevo  Inc. has entered a joint venture with Redfield Energy to turn Redfield’s ethanol plant in South Dakota into one that makes isobutanol.  Englewood, Colo.-based Gevo says it uses a proprietary yeast to ferment corn sugars into isobutanol, which can be blended into fuel at higher percentages than ethanol.  Gevo said Thursday it will provide the technology and capital to retrofit Redfield’s plant into one that can make about 38 million gallons per year of isobutanol, with commercial production beginning late next year. Gevo will receive an equity interest in Redfield in return.  Redfield CEO Tom Hitchcock says the deal gives Redfield an opportunity to improve profit margins.