Viridis Chemical Co. to Build Ethyl Acetate Plant in Peoria!

Peoria is getting a new industry.

Even better, a new rail user. In a press release dated November 25, Viridis Chemical Co. confirms its plan to move an ethyl acetate plant from Columbus, Nebraska to Peoria. 

The new Peoria site, situated on the Illinois River, offers key logistical advantages. In addition to the adjacency to BioUrja, the location includes access to all major rail lines and barge-navigable routes connecting to the Mississippi River. The site’s proximity to Viridis’ core ethyl acetate customers in the Midwest and Northeast, combined with its superior logistics and storage capabilities, will position Viridis for enhanced operational efficiency and customer service.

Yesterday, the Peoria City Council approved Viridis' plan after it agreed to certain conditions. The reason to move was that that the existing plant had been supplied ethanol from BioUrja Renewables LLC's Peoria plant for two years, so it made sense to be closer to its supplier. 

The new plant will be located on land formerly occupied by the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's old "West Yard," which prior owner Archer Daniels Midland Co paid to have relocated in 2014 to expand grain truck staging. Rail service is mentioned, and the existing Columbus, Nebraska facility has two tracks, one for loading out tank cars with ethyl acetate, the other probably to store empty tank cars when they are needed. 

A WEEK TV-25 article states that operations are expected to begin by late 2025. Ethyl acetate is a low-cost ingredient in paint, coatings, packaging, consumer products, wood varnish, electronics, *food and pharmaceuticals. 

Midwest markets for Viridis may be primarily supplied by truck, though more distant locations of more than a few hundred miles may be rail markets, depending on service and pricing. More distant customers in the northeast will most certainly generate business for Norfolk Southern and joint TP&W-CSX Transportation routings. Haz-mat placard number is 1173, so tank cars carrying this product will be easily identified. 

The Tazewell & Peoria Railroad is a switching and terminal railroad providing neutral access to four Class 1 (BNSF, Canadian National, Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific), one Class II (Iowa Interstate) and two Class III lines (Illinois & Midland RR, Keokuk Junction Railway and Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway). 

*Such as candy, bakery goods and chewing gum.

- David P. Jordan

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