Key facts
- POET Bioprocessing began construction on an expansion project at its Shelbyville, Indiana facility.
- The expansion will double the plant's bioethanol production capacity from 98 million to 193 million gallons per year.
- The project is a $200 million investment that will also double dried distillers grains and corn oil output.
- The expansion is expected to create demand for an additional 32 million bushels of Indiana corn annually.
- The project will add 25 new full-time jobs.
- Construction began in March 2026 and is slated for completion in Q4 2027.
POET, the world's largest producer of biofuels, has broken ground on a significant expansion of its POET Bioprocessing facility in Shelbyville, Indiana. The project aims to double the plant's bioethanol production capacity, increasing it from 98 million gallons to 193 million gallons annually. This expansion represents a $200 million investment and is expected to create substantial new demand for local farmers, generating a need for an additional 32 million bushels of Indiana corn each year.
The upgraded facility will also double its output of dried distillers grains and corn oil, and will add 25 new full-time positions. Officials, including U.S. Rep. Jefferson Shreve and Mayor Scott Furgeson, attended the groundbreaking ceremony, highlighting the project's importance for rural economies, American energy security, and supporting farm families facing low commodity prices.
POET executives emphasized the company's commitment to agriculture and meeting the growing demand for American-made biofuels and bioproducts. The expansion is seen as a way to improve market access for farmers and explore new opportunities in areas like carbon capture and E15 fuel. Construction commenced in March 2026, with completion anticipated in the fourth quarter of 2027.