One of world's largest biodiesel complex opens with fanfare in Kosciusko County

By Jenni Glenn, The Journal Gazette

CLAYPOOL - A line of cars about two miles long crawled south on Indiana 15, approaching the white tents.

The circus had come to town, only there was no big top or exotic animals. Instead, a crowd 10 times larger than this southern Kosciusko County town's population converged for the grand opening of one of the world's largest biodiesel plants.

Louis Dreyfus Commodities, which built the $150 million biodiesel and soybean crushing plant, entertained the crowd of 3,000 to 4,000 with plenty of pageantry. The Wagon Wheel Theatre's cast, clad in blue evening gowns and white tuxedo jackets, belted out the national anthem. Warsaw Community High School cheerleaders lined the side of the stage where Gov. Mitch Daniels, Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman and U.S. Rep. Mark Souder spoke about the plant's economic benefits. Farmers and students who couldn't see the stage directly watched the speeches on a giant video screen.