FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Benchmark Renewable Energy LLC (https://www.benchmarkrenewable.com), an advanced biofuel developer based in Clearwater, Florida, has reached an agreement to acquire the ethanol plant and related assets of Tyton NC Biofuels LLC in North Carolina.
The plant, located in Raeford, North Carolina, is a first-generation corn-to-ethanol facility. Once completed, it will have a low-carbon annual production capacity of 61.5 million gallons. Benchmark's business plan includes modifying the plant to produce advanced biofuels, eliminating the use of hydrocarbons, improving production yields, enhancing the digestibility of co-products such as distillers dried grains, and enabling the plant to process multiple feedstocks, including sorghum.
Benchmark Design LLC is responsible for the new process design, and Corval Group of Minnesota will undertake the plant modifications under an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) Contract. Following the modifications, NAES will operate the plant under an Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Agreement.
The CEO of Benchmark Design LLC stated, "We are delighted to have the opportunity to improve and operate the Raeford plant. We intend to leverage our experience in deploying the latest available technology and commercial best demonstrated practices from other food processing industries, fuel ethanol distilleries in Brazil, rum distilleries in Central and South America, and fuel ethanol plants in California and North Dakota. We expect Raeford to be a showcase for low-carbon operations and biofuel production in the United States. The plant is ideally located to service CITGO’s (Offtake Agreement in place) ethanol blending requirements on the East Coast.
The grain feedstock required for operations will be provided by CHS.
The acquisition is anticipated to be finalized in the fourth quarter of 2025, with construction and modifications expected to have the plant back in operation in early 2027.
For additional information, please contact Benchmark Renewable Energy.