Ingredion Inc. plans to add a $100 million expansion to its westside manufacturing plant
The Illinois-based specialty starch company made the announcement this month, saying the 2026 expansion will expand the plant’s capabilities while reducing air emissions.
The company produces specialty starches out of corn that are used to make food and beauty and home care products as well as some pharmaceuticals. A spokesman said the expansion would modernize equipment and install an energy co-generation system to produce texturants, the ingredients that affect how products feel while they’re being used.
Ingredion Vice President for Corporate Sustainability Brian Nash told Mirror Indy the co-generation system would allow the company to supply power, heat and steam to the plant simultaneously.
“This fuel optimization will lead to lower greenhouse gas emissions almost immediately when the project is complete in late 2026,” Nash said.
Ingredion has had a long history of being cited for excess air pollution on the west side. The company’s prior emissions violations have resulted from the plant’s manufacturing processes and its power generation.
The announced improvements could help the company improve its effect on local air quality. The modernized equipment is expected to reduce emissions during manufacturing, and the co-generation is expected to decrease emissions when generating power.
20 years of air pollution
The company in December agreed to pay a civil penalty of $1.1 million and install $7 million in upgrades at its Indianapolis plant to settle allegations it violated the federal Clean Air Act by emitting too much particulate matter. Particulate matter can aggravate respiratory or heart conditions, decrease lung function and cause other health problems.
The company told state regulators that it had released thousands of pounds of starches into the air in February, May and November. When inhaled, starches can aggravate asthma or cause allergic reactions.
The company was assessed a $14,000 civil penalty for violating its air permit by emitting too many volatile organic compounds, which are toxic chemicals that sometimes cause cancer.
The company agreed to pay the city of Indianapolis a $34,800 civil penalty and enter into a compliance program for 1,357 violations of its federal permits between 2004 and 2007.
The company agreed to pay the city of Indianapolis a $4,800 civil penalty for permit violations between 1999 and 2003.
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