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Pacific Ethanol acquires Aventine plants

California-based Pacific Ethanol is acquiring ethanol plants in Nebraska and Illinois owned by Aventine Renewable Energy.

Aventine’s plants include a 100 million gallon per year wet mill and 60 million gallon per year dry mill located in Pekin, Illinois, and 110 million gallon per year and 45 million gallon per year dry mills in Aurora, Nebraska.

Pacific Ethanol is the largest producer of ethanol in the western U.S. with current capacity of 200 million gallons per year. The acquisition of the Aventine plants will increase that output to 515 million gallons per year and make Pacific the fifth-largest ethanol producer in the country.

PHOTO: Aventine’s plant in Pekin, Illinois