Chevron Restarts Ralston Iowa Biodiesel Plant
Chevron USA Inc. will resume operations at its biodiesel facility in Ralston, Iowa, supported by an agreement with Landus Cooperative.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Agriculture
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Chevron USA Inc. will restart its biodiesel production facility in Ralston, Iowa, which was idled in 2024 after a market downturn. The restart follows a commercial and operational agreement with Landus Cooperative, whose neighboring soybean processing facility supplies the plant.
Why it matters
The restart reflects improved biodiesel market conditions and gives Iowa a renewed source of renewable fuel production tied to local soybean processing. Once fully operational, the facility is expected to add employment and contracting opportunities in the region.
At full production the Ralston plant has a capacity of nearly 42 million gallons of biodiesel per year, while the neighboring Landus facility processes more than 28 million bushels of soybeans annually. The restart timeline and ramp-up pace have not been disclosed.
The players
Chevron USA Inc.
The U.S. subsidiary of Chevron Corporation, operating energy and fuel production assets including the Ralston biodiesel plant.
Chevron Corporation
A global integrated energy company whose downstream operations include petroleum refining and renewable fuel production.
Landus Cooperative
An Iowa-based agricultural cooperative that operates soybean processing facilities supplying feedstock to the Ralston plant.
The details
Chevron USA Inc., a subsidiary of Chevron Corporation, will resume operations at the Ralston facility through a staged process covering staffing, maintenance, safety and operational-readiness activities. The plant draws feedstock through a neighboring Landus Cooperative processing facility, described as the largest mechanical crush facility in the U.S.
Timeline
2024: Chevron idled the Ralston facility after a market downturn.
Third quarter 2026: Chevron's U.S. refineries reported nearly 98% utilisation.
2026: Chevron achieved monthly renewable diesel and biodiesel production records.
Market Landscape
The Ralston restart fits a soybean-to-biodiesel model that links adjacent crushing and fuel-production assets, reducing feedstock transport between them. It also comes as Chevron reports high refinery utilisation and record renewable diesel and biodiesel output in 2026, signaling a broader push in its renewable fuel portfolio.
For Iowa residents, the restart may bring local hiring and contracting work as the plant ramps up. Consumers may see a larger regional supply of biodiesel over time, though the stub does not state how it will affect fuel prices.
The takeaway
Co-locating biodiesel production beside soybean processing can cut feedstock logistics and keep local supply chains tight. Readers tracking regional energy or agriculture should watch the restart's staffing and production milestones.
Further reading
For more on the crops feeding this process, explore Agriculture coverage across Iowa.
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