Imperium Shuts Biodiesel Plant After Explosion

Gregory T. Huang12/3/09

Seattle-based Imperium Renewables said it has shut down operations at its Grays Harbor biodiesel plant in Hoquiam, WA, following an explosion of a 10,000-gallon glycerin processing tank yesterday afternoon. No injuries were reported, and there was no fire. The cause of the blast is still under investigation, but the company says the rupture was caused by over-pressurization of the tank. Two adjacent tanks containing biodiesel and other materials, including sulfuric acid, were damaged as well.

Gregory T. Huang is Xconomy's National IT Editor and the Editor of Xconomy Boston. You can e-mail him at gthuang@xconomy.com, call him at 617-252-7323, or follow him on Twitter at @gthuang.