Western Plains Energy
Western Plains Energy is a privately-held, single-site bioethanol producer in Oakley, Kansas that processes ~50,000 bushels of corn and sorghum daily into 200-proof fuel ethanol and 350,000 tons of wet distillers grain annually, serving regional fuel blenders and Northwest Kansas beef and dairy operations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersOakley, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Western Plains Energy does
Western Plains Energy, LLC ("WPE") is a privately-held, single-site bioethanol producer headquartered in Oakley, Kansas. Founded in 2001 by Brian Baalman and Jeff Torluemke to increase the per-bushel value of locally-grown grain, the company became operational in January 2004 and has since expanded processing capacity to approximately 50,000 bushels of corn and sorghum per day. WPE converts grain into 200-proof fuel-grade ethanol (denatured with 2–2.5% gasoline for E10/E15 blending), wet and dried distillers grains (WDG/DDG; 350,000 tons of WDG produced annually for regional beef and dairy operations), and value-added byproducts including syrup and distillers oil. The company's core technology stack relies on fermentation, distillation, and molecular-sieve dehydration, supplemented by ICM cold-cook and slurry-grinding processes, Syngenta Enogen corn enzyme technology, and — most recently — a fully integrated Whitefox ICE XL membrane solution installed in 2024 to drive toward net-zero emissions and capture low-carbon-intensity fuel premiums.
The company operates two wholly-owned subsidiaries: Western Plains Trucking, LLC (formed 2011) handles in-house logistics for distillers products and ethanol, and Western Plains Wind, LLC (formed 2021) provides diversification into wind-energy generation. WPE sells fuel ethanol to regional fuel blenders and distributors (shipped primarily by Union Pacific rail, evidenced by WPE's 2025 Pinnacle Award for hazmat safety) and wet distillers grain directly to beef and dairy operations across Northwest Kansas. Grain is procured from local and regional corn and sorghum farmers through direct contracting, supported by 2.5 million bushels of storage capacity and three dump pits minimizing receiving wait times.
Revenue derives from volume-based transactions across three primary streams: fuel ethanol sales, wet/dry distillers grain sales, and distillers oil/syrup byproduct sales. WPE also operates a securities-trading platform (via AgStockTrade.com) for accredited investors to buy and sell membership units (Classes A, B, C, and E), with a $10,000 minimum investment and Rule 506(b) exempt offering of up to $16.2 million (approximately $1.335M sold at filing in August 2024). The company is governed by a Board of Managers led by President Jeff Torluemke and CEO Derek Peine; grain procurement is managed by Eric Starns and distillers products by Joni Wilson. WPE maintains active membership in Growth Energy, the Renewable Fuels Association, Renew Kansas, the National Sorghum Producers, and the Kansas Corn Growers Association to support ethanol industry advocacy.
Western Plains Energy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Western Plains Energy
- Legal name
- Western Plains Energy LLC
- Website
- https://wpellc.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Western Plains Energy is a privately-held, single-site bioethanol producer in Oakley, Kansas that processes ~50,000 bushels of corn and sorghum daily into 200-proof fuel ethanol and 350,000 tons of wet distillers grain annually, serving regional fuel blenders and Northwest Kansas beef and dairy operations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Western Plains Energy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Bioethanol Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Grain and Oilseed Milling (3112), Fats and Oils Refining and Blending (311225), Grain and Field Bean Merchant Wholesalers (424510)
- SIC
- Grain Mill Products (2040)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Grain & Sugar-Based Ethanol Production (EUAAAHAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Byproduct & Co-Product Feed Blending (DDGS, soybean hulls, wheat midds) (AFADAIAG), Biomass Storage, Handling & Inventory Management (Yards, Silos, Moisture Control) (EUAAAFAF), Agricultural Residues & Energy Crops Biomass Power (Stover, Bagasse, Pellets) (EUACAIAF)
Keywords
Where Western Plains Energy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Oakley
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Western Plains Energy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Fuel Ethanol Sales: Ethanol is distilled to 190 proof, concentrated to 200 proof (99.5%+ ethanol) using molecular sieves, denatured with approximately 2-2.5% gasoline, and sold to fuel blenders for blending into E10 and E15 fuel grades. Revenue is generated from volume-based product sales.
- Wet Distillers Grain Sales: The non-fermentable portion of grain (oil, protein, fiber) is processed via centrifugation, evaporation, and drying into wet distillers grain (WDG/WDGS/Wet Cake) — a high-protein, high-energy animal feed sold to regional beef and dairy cattle operations. Annual production is approximately 350,000 tons of wet distillers grain, with capacity for dry distillers grain production as well.
- Securities Offering: WPE conducted a Form D securities offering targeting accredited investors with a minimum investment of $10,000, raising capital for energy-related activities. Offering amount of $16.2 million, with $1.335 million sold at time of filing.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Accredited investor securities offering |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Western Plains Energy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Western Plains Energy operates a bioethanol production facility in Oakley, Kansas that processes approximately 50,000 bushels of corn and sorghum daily into 200-proof fuel-grade ethanol denatured with gasoline and sold to fuel blenders for E10/E15 blending. The non-fermentable grain fractions are processed into wet distillers grains (WDG), dry distillers grains (DDG), syrup, and distillers oil - sold as high-protein livestock feed to regional beef and dairy operations. The company also procures grain directly from local farmers and offers membership unit trading to accredited investors.
Product overview
Western Plains Energy operates as an ethanol production company with a portfolio of products and services. The core operation is a bioethanol production facility that processes approximately 50,000 bushels of corn and sorghum daily into fuel ethanol (200 proof) and animal feed products. The product portfolio centers on Fuel Ethanol sold to fuel blenders, complemented by Wet and Dried Distillers Grains (annual production of 350,000 tons of wet product) as high-protein livestock feed, plus value-add byproducts including Syrup and Distillers Oil. The company has expanded beyond ethanol production with two subsidiaries: Western Plains Trucking, LLC (transportation/logistics) and Western Plains Wind, LLC (wind energy). Supporting services include Grain Procurement with 2.5 million bushels storage capacity and a Membership Unit Trading platform. The company is pursuing net-zero emissions through Whitefox ICE XL membrane technology integration. The overall architecture is a single production facility with multiple co-products and supporting subsidiaries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Fuel Ethanol 200 proof (99.5%+ ethanol) fuel-grade ethanol denatured with approximately 2-2.5% gasoline, sold to fuel blenders for blending into E10 (10% ethanol) or E15 (15% ethanol) motor gasoline formulations for retail distribution.
- Wet Distillers Grains (WDG) High-protein, high-energy animal feed (65-67% moisture) produced from the non-fermentable portion of grain (oil, protein, fiber) via centrifugation, evaporation, and partial drying. Predominantly fed to beef and dairy cattle operations in Northwest Kansas. Annual production is approximately 350,000 tons.
- Dried Distillers Grains (DDG) Dry distiller's grains (10-12% moisture) converted from wet distiller's grains via a distillers dryer, used as high-protein animal feed for livestock with extended shelf life compared to the wet form.
- Syrup Concentrated liquid stream (32-34% solids) from the evaporation process in ethanol production, produced as a byproduct and marketed as feed.
- Distillers Oil Value-add oil product extracted from the syrup stream in ethanol production, providing an additional revenue stream from the distillation byproduct.
- Grain Procurement (Corn and Sorghum) Procurement and processing service for local and regional corn and sorghum (milo) growers, accepting delivery at the Oakley, Kansas facility with 2.5 million bushels of total storage capacity and 3 separate dump pits, processing approximately 50,000 bushels of grain daily into ethanol and animal feed products.
- Membership Unit Trading Platform Investment offering and trading platform for WPE membership units to accredited investors with a $10,000 minimum investment, facilitated through AgStockTrade.com with minimum trade sizes (30 units for Class A/B; 1 unit for Class C/E) and a 2% seller fee (minimum $100) to the escrow agent.
- Western Plains Trucking Logistics Service In-house trucking and logistics service operated as a wholly-owned subsidiary since 2011, hauling distillers products and providing logistics support for ethanol distribution across the region.
- Western Plains Wind Energy Operations Wind energy operations operated through a wholly-owned subsidiary established in 2021, expanding WPE's renewable energy portfolio beyond ethanol into wind power generation.
Quantifiable outcome
- Processes ~50,000 bushels of grain per day into ethanol and animal feed
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Western Plains Energy
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Western Plains Energy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Western Plains Energy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Union Pacific RailroadcoreUnion Pacific Railroad transports WPE's hazardous materials (ethanol) by rail. In 2025, Union Pacific honored WPE with the Pinnacle Award for chemical safety, recognizing WPE's achievement of zero non-accident releases of regulated hazardous materials shipments. The railroad handles 99.99% of hazmat shipments safely.
- WhitefoxcoreWhitefox supplied its ICE XL membrane solution, which was integrated into WPE's bioethanol production facility as a key decarbonization technology in WPE's quest to become a net-zero emissions producer. The installation was announced via Yahoo Finance as a groundbreaking implementation.
- Growth EnergycoreWPE is a proud member of Growth Energy, a leading ethanol industry association that advocates for renewable fuel policies and market expansion. Membership supports WPE's policy engagement and industry networking.
- Renewable Fuels Association (RFA)coreWPE is a proud member of the Renewable Fuels Association, the leading trade association for the U.S. ethanol industry, providing advocacy, research, and industry standards alignment.
- Renew KansascoreWPE is a proud member of Renew Kansas, a state-level renewable energy association supporting ethanol production and market development in Kansas.
- National Sorghum ProducersminorWPE is a member of the National Sorghum Producers association, reflecting its use of sorghum (milo) as a grain feedstock alongside corn, supporting market development for sorghum-based ethanol.
- Kansas Corn Growers AssociationminorWPE maintains a membership in the Kansas Corn Growers Association, supporting its primary feedstock sourcing relationship with local corn farmers.
- Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission & Producers AssociationminorWPE partners with the Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission to support and promote sorghum (milo) as a feedstock, reflecting its dual-crop grain strategy.
- Clean Fuels Development CoalitionminorWPE is listed as a member of the Clean Fuels Development Coalition, which focuses on advancing clean transportation fuels and supporting ethanol market growth.
- American Coalition for EthanolminorWPE maintains a membership in the American Coalition for Ethanol, an organization dedicated to advancing ethanol as a fuel and industrial feedstock.
- Fuels AmericaminorWPE is listed as a member of Fuels America, a coalition supporting renewable fuel policy and market access for ethanol producers.
- AgStockTrade.comcoreAgStockTrade.com is a public platform used by WPE to match willing buyers and sellers of WPE membership units. WPE references a formal Trading Operations Manual governing trades. Class A/B minimum trade is 30 capital units; Class C/E minimum is 1 unit. Sellers pay a 2% fee (minimum $100) to the escrow agent.
- Western Plains Trucking LLCcoreWestern Plains Trucking LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of WPE, created in 2011 to haul distillers products and support product logistics. The subsidiary also manages the WPT/WPE relationship with trucking customers.
- Western Plains Wind LLCminorWestern Plains Wind LLC was created in 2021 as a WPE subsidiary focused on wind energy, reflecting WPE's diversification into renewable energy beyond ethanol.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves19 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Western Plains Energy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Cargill: Global agribusiness with corn ethanol and corn oil operations alongside vast grain trading and processing. Broad incumbent rather than a pure-play ethanol competitor.
- Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM): Global agribusiness giant operating large-scale corn wet mills and ethanol production as part of a diversified agricultural processing portfolio. Overlapping in grain-to-ethanol and distillers grain but broader in scope and much larger scale.
Direct peers
- Alto Ingredients: Pacific Ethanol successor operating multiple corn ethanol facilities producing fuel ethanol, WDG/DDG, and corn oil. Comparable in scale, product portfolio, and small/mid-cap ethanol producer positioning.
- Flint Hills Resources: Koch-owned corn ethanol producer operating several plants in the Midwest producing fuel ethanol, distillers grains, and corn oil. Direct mid-scale competitor with similar feedstock and product mix.
- Valero Renewable Fuels: A division of Valero producing ~1.2B gallons/year of corn ethanol across multiple plants with associated distillers grain. Operates the same corn-based fuel ethanol business model as WPE.
- Green Plains Inc. Largest U.S. independent corn ethanol producer with multiple plants producing fuel ethanol, distillers grains, and increasingly low-CI/renewable corn oil. Closely comparable in feedstock, product mix, and pursuit of low-carbon fuel premiums.
- POET: World's largest grain ethanol producer operating ~30 plants with the same corn-to-ethanol + distillers grain model. Directly comparable in process technology adoption (ICM, BPX) and low-CI pathway.
Emerging players
- Aemetis: California-based renewable fuels company producing corn ethanol with low-CI pathway development and expanding into SAF/renewable diesel. Comparable in corn ethanol + low-CI focus but with greater downstream renewable fuel ambitions.
- Lakeview Energy: Mid-scale corn ethanol producer with plants in the Midwest, operating in a similar niche as WPE with comparable grain-ethanol + distillers grain economics.
Others
- Whitefox Technologies: Membrane-based ethanol dehydration technology provider whose ICE XL solution WPE has integrated. Closely tied via technology partnership and a key supplier enabling WPE's low-CI/low-energy pathway.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Western Plains Energy social profiles
Digital presenceWestern Plains Energy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Western Plains Energy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles20 records
Western Plains Energy subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Western Plains Energy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Western Plains Energy M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Western Plains Energy
What does Western Plains Energy do?
Western Plains Energy operates a bioethanol production facility in Oakley, Kansas that processes approximately 50,000 bushels of corn and sorghum daily into 200-proof fuel-grade ethanol denatured with gasoline and sold to fuel blenders for E10/E15 blending. The non-fermentable grain fractions are processed into wet distillers grains (WDG), dry distillers grains (DDG), syrup, and distillers oil - sold as high-protein livestock feed to regional beef and dairy operations. The company also procures grain directly from local farmers and offers membership unit trading to accredited investors.
Is Western Plains Energy a public or private company?
Western Plains Energy is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Western Plains Energy founded?
Western Plains Energy was founded in 2001. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Western Plains Energy based?
Western Plains Energy is headquartered in Oakley, United States, in the North America region.
How does Western Plains Energy make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Fuel Ethanol Sales are the primary driver. The others are wet Distillers Grain Sales and securities Offering.
Who are Western Plains Energy's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Cargill and Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM). Direct peers are Alto Ingredients, Flint Hills Resources, Valero Renewable Fuels, Green Plains Inc. and POET. Emerging players are Aemetis and Lakeview Energy. Whitefox Technologies is listed as an others.
Does Western Plains Energy have an API?
No public API is recorded for Western Plains Energy.
What industry is Western Plains Energy in?
Western Plains Energy's product category is Bioethanol Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAAAHAA, Grain & Sugar-Based Ethanol Production, with a secondary code of AFADAIAG, Byproduct & Co-Product Feed Blending (DDGS, soybean hulls, wheat midds). Its NAICS code is 3112 and its SIC code is 2040.