KMA Land - Young Tours Green Plains Inc.

News Article

by Brent Barnett

Iowa 3rd District Congressman David Young made a stop in Shenandoah Monday morning as part of a tour through southwest Iowa.

Young toured the facility at Green Plains Inc. to observe the daily operations of ethanol production. Young tells KMA News the Shenandoah plant is a top notch facility.

"It's run by Iowans so of course it's going to be top notch," Young said. "They are very creative and disciplined in what they do and they want to make sure they make a good product and they do. We need to make sure that we have ways to get this to the market, not just here in America, but also there are opportunities abroad. With the new trade agreements coming up there will be new export opportunities and there is a demand for this, both the feed and the fuel."

Leaders of Green Plains Inc. discussed proposed expansion plans of the facility during Young's tour. Young says he is in favor of any type of expansion that helps Iowans.

"Grow baby grow," Young said. "It's good for jobs, good paying jobs, and it helps build community. It's great to have industry growing in southwest Iowa in the heartland."

While Young was impressed with the ethanol production operations at the Shenandoah plant, he says many lawmakers have a "lack of understanding" of renewable energy. Young says he wants to educate his colleagues on the benefits and importance of renewable energy in Iowa.

"Iowa is a great place to showcase folks," Young said. "We would like to bring people out to the Iowa State Fair to highlight our agricultural heritage and our economy, but as well we have to get them outside of the city and into our rural areas. I would be glad to bring anybody and everybody down here to Shenandoah and rural Iowa.
The economy is good, but it could be better. We should always try to improve. We are what is making Iowa tic right now."

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