Renewable Energy Group establishes monarch butterfly habitat at biodiesel plant

Renewable Energy Group (REG) has announced it will set up a Monarch Fueling Station at its biodiesel plant near Newton, Iowa, US.

The habitat for monarch butterflies will cover approximately one and a half acres of land.

According to REG, the biorefinery will initially spray the area to eradicate non-native grasses this summer and again in the autumn, before carrying out dormant seeding of native plants and milkweed in November.

“Creating our Monarch Fueling Station is a great project that REG Newton is proud to be adding to our facility,” said plant manager Phil Abels. “Protecting the environment is what REG does every day and providing habitat for pollinators is something all of us at REG Newton can get excited about and participate in. This effort is a great way to make an immediate impact on preserving the longevity of Iowa’s wildlife.”

The Monarch Fueling Station project was established by the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) together with the Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium in December 2017.

The programme aims to help Iowa’s ethanol and biodiesel plants establish monarch butterfly habitat on plant grounds.