(September 15, 2011) Washington - The Renewable Fuels Association today congratulates Guardian Lima, LLC on the grand opening of their new ethanol facility, located in Lima, Ohio. The biorefinery will produce 54 million gallons of fuel grade ethanol and 165,000 tons of dried distillers grains, an ethanol feed co-product, annually.

Now operational, Guardian Lima employs 33 full time Ohioans in positions from chemists to engineers to accountants and administrative support staff.   Some 600 applications were submitted for the open positions.  Prior to the opening, there were 120 jobs involved with retrofitting and construction of the plant. The facility, formally Greater Ohio Ethanol, began operations in 2008 but shortly after became idle that November following a file for bankruptcy due to numerous operational challenges and adverse financial market conditions.  Guardian Lima acquired majority stake in the ethanol production facility in 2010.

“We are proud to bring this facility back into operation, creating jobs and providing a boost to the Lima economy,” said Don Gales, CEO of Guardian Lima, LLC. “Domestic ethanol production is a key component of the nation’s energy strategy and one that begins in hundreds of small towns and cities just like Lima.”

“America’s ethanol industry continues to demonstrate an unparalleled ability to create jobs, particularly in small cities and rural communities all across the country,” said RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen. “Each new ethanol biorefinery opened is the epitome of efficiency, implementing cutting edge technologies that increase production, reduce water and energy use, and allow the US to remain as the lowest cost ethanol producer in the world. The RFA congratulates Guardian Lima, its employees, and the entire Lima community on bringing this plant back into production.”

There are currently over 200 ethanol plants in 29 states that have directly created more than 70,000 quality jobs and currently sustain more than 400,000 total jobs across the economy. These are good paying jobs ranging from plant managers, production workers, scientists, engineers, accountants and general office staff.