Aug 1, 2022

Western New York Energy completes $38m expansion

Western New York Energy (WNYE) has completed a $38 million (€37m) expansion to produce high purity alcohol products under the ClearSource brand.

The ClearSource brand includes pharmaceutical, industrial and beverage-grade alcohol using New York farm corn and a natural fermentation process. The company sources corn locally and produces everything onsite to reduce shipping and transportation emissions.

The 6,000 square-foot expansion will enable WNYE to produce 15 million gallons of alcohol annually.

WNYE CEO Tim Winters commented: "While supplying alcohol for sanitiser during the pandemic, we made the decision to invest in a world-class distillation system to offer products that contain virtually no impurities."

"This state-of-the-art technology ensures New York’s largest ethanol facility can sustainably meet customers’ unique specifications.

"Our method for producing ethanol and higher purity alcohol is a zero-waste process which helps our customers achieve their commitments to sustainable practices."

Winters added that ClearSource is an extension of WNYE's pledge in 2007 to support local agriculture and the regional economy: “We purchase 20 million bushels of corn each year. We take our commitment to New York growers seriously and we’re proud to partner with them every year to manufacture clean, domestic products.”

Executive director at New York Corn & Soybean Growers Association Colleen Klein commented: "The New York Corn & Soybean Growers Association celebrates the launch of ClearSource high purity alcohol from Western New York Energy.

"WNYE has been a trusted partner of our growers for years. When the pandemic hit hard in 2020, leadership at WNYE was among the first to act in pivoting operations to provide hand sanitiser across the country in times of dire need. It is no surprise that they have continued to invest and diversify to ensure a strong New York corn market for years to come.”

WNYE will work with their ethanol marketer Eco-Energy to supply ClearSource products for pharmaceutical and industrial uses.

The brand’s manufacturing process produces 200-proof Grain Neutral Spirits (GNS) that are organic and gluten free.