Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Epitome Energy?

We are a developer of value-add agricultural processing opportunities focused on bringing stability and value to farmers and their markets. With over 60 years of combined experience in the seed oil industry, business development, and regulatory affairs, our seasoned team uses its expertise to develop projects that strengthen agribusiness throughout the Upper Midwest.

The Project

  • Epitome Energy is building a state-of-the-art soybean crush plant in Grand Forks, ND to serve the region’s soybean growers and meet the rapidly growing demand for soy products. Using a solvent extraction process, the plant will process a projected 42 million bushels of soybeans annually.

  • Over the past two decades, soybean production has increased by more than 300% in the Red River Valley and become a dominant crop in the region. However, many soybean farmers are over 100 miles away from the nearest processing facility. As a result, soybeans in the region are regularly among the lowest priced in the country, and farmers are forced to spend more on the transport of their harvests prior to sale and are unable to reach certain markets.

    Epitome Energy’s plant will fill farmers’ need for a reliable and accessible processor and strengthen the supply of in-demand soy products for fuel refiners, food companies, and agribusinesses nationwide.

  • The plant will produce several raw soy products for use in renewable fuel, foodstuffs and animal feed. Once operational, the plant is projected to produce:

    • Crude Degummed Soy Oil: 60 million gallons per year

    • Soybean Meal: 940,000 tons per year

    • Soybean Hulls: 84,000 tons per year

  • The plant will be located on a 100-acre green field just north of Grand Forks and west of Hwy 29.

  • The plant itself will be located on the southern edge of the site, and adjacent to a new railway circuit to handle rail shipments. The site will also house:

    • Seed, oil, chemical, and by-products storage

    • Loading/unloading facilities

    • Management offices

    • Road and vehicle infrastructure

    • Wastewater treatment

    • BNSF and CP rail access

    The site includes access to rail and all necessary utilities.

  • A development agreement between Epitome Energy and the City of Grand Forks has been completed. Fagen, Inc. has been selected as the engineering, procurement and construction contractor and design and engineering plans for the project have been drafted.

    Epitome is currently working to establish utilities, railroad design, and soil borings at the plant site. Air permits and traffic and environmental assessments are underway.

The Impact

  • The plant will serve as a premier soybean processor for farmers across Northwestern Minnesota and Northeastern North Dakota. Finished products will be used in a variety of industries including the production of renewable diesel fuel, foodstuffs, and livestock feeds.

  • By building a crush plant in Grand Forks, Epitome Energy will offer a reliable and convenient processing option for farmers throughout the Red River Valley. Improved proximity to processing will strengthen demand for soybeans in the region and provide a more efficient path to growing markets. Epitome Energy estimates that the project will strengthen the basis for soybeans by a 20 to 25 cents per bushel.

  • The plant will create 50-60 new jobs and indirectly support more than 800 jobs in and around Grand Forks. Research by the University of Minnesota Extension Center indicates that the project could create upwards of $300 million in new economic activity.

  • Epitome Energy’s plant will produce approximately 60 million gallons of crude degummed soybean oil per year once operational.

    A large share of the plant’s oil will go toward use in renewable diesel fuels. Production has accelerated rapidly throughout the U.S. over the last decade, and Epitome Energy will serve several leading producers as a reliable supplier of oil.

    Epitome Energy will also supply oil to food companies. The nutrient-dense oil can be used in a variety of foodstuffs such as margarine, tofu, and animal protein-substitutes.

  • Finished soybean meal will serve several nearby markets, including the Manitoba hog industry, the Minnesota turkey industry and the surrounding dairy industry. Meal may also be supplied to food companies as a key source of vegetable-based protein and animal-protein subsitute.

  • Like soybean meal, soy hulls serve as a nutritious additive for a variety of animal feeds. A large share of Epitome Energy’s soy hulls will be supplied to livestock producers in and around the Grand Forks region.

  • Grand Forks boasts a strong agribusiness community and is centrally located within an area with high soybean yields, but no nearby processing plants. Epitome Energy seeks to meet this need for new processing options, and partner with nearby agricultural businesses in search of high-quality soy materials.

  • With guidance from air modeling and emission experts at Stantec Inc, Epitome Energy is working closely with the state of North Dakota and the city of Grand Forks to ensure that our facility meets all state and federal emissions regulations. We are committed to building a facility that is environmental responsible, which is why we have partnered with Fagen, Inc – a national leader in green energy design – to serve as the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) partner for the project.

  • Hexane is an organic compound that has been used for over 50 years as an essential solvent in the extraction of soybean oil. Because hexane is a tightly regulated substance, Epitome Energy’s plant will use the latest in soy processing equipment and technology to protect workers and minimize the amount of hexane used and emitted during oil extraction.

  • Epitome Energy’s facility will require none of the fermentation or steeping that tend to produce undesirable odors. At times there may be a slight toasted odor similar to a cereal smell.

    The facility will include noise-dampening measures to prevent excess noise from processing equipment. The plant’s site is also located away from urban areas to minimize the impact of noise or odors caused by related traffic and rail activity.

  • The site for Epitome Energy’s plant was chosen in part for its existing access to rail and its proximity to Highway 29. While truck and train traffic will increase to serve our facility, the additional traffic will use existing roads and highways. As part of the pre-development process, the city of Grand Forks will conduct a traffic study to determine what impact increased traffic will have on the area and where road improvements may need to be made.

  • As a facility that will operate 24 hours per day, the plant’s outdoor lighting will consist primarily of downlights to mitigate unnecessary light pollution.

How can I learn more?

Explore this website to learn more about the proposed crush plant and Epitome Energy’s vision to benefit farmers and business in the Grand Forks area. Have a question you don’t see answered on our site? Visit our Contact page to get in touch.