Source: Hastings Tribune

HASTINGS, NEBRASKA, October 16, 2025 – Despite construction delays, a cutting-edge renewable diesel refinery being built east of Hastings is expected to open in the second half of 2026.

The Love’s Family of Companies has taken full ownership of the Heartwell Renewables project, which aims to transform animal fat into renewable fuel.

Originally part of a joint venture, Cargill remains part of the project as the provider of the primary feedstock, tallow. As one of the largest beef processors in North America, Cargill will provide the rendered animal fat co-product following protein processing, which is deemed a low-carbon intensity feedstock.

Tim Doty, Love’s vice president of corporate development and growth initiatives, said the company is expanding hiring for both contractors to complete construction of the facility and about 45 employees to work full time once operations begin.

The plant originally was scheduled to open in July 2024, but a combination of access to labor, supply chain and other typical construction delays prevented completion.

“Although the project has encountered some delays, we remain committed to future milestones and have achieved significant construction progress over the past couple of months,” Doty said. “Our focus is to build on that positive progress, and we look forward to opening the refinery in second half of 2026.”

Once open, the renewable diesel processing facility is expected to initially produce 80 million gallons per year.

Musket, the commodity trading and logistics arm of the Love’s Family of Companies, will transport and market the product in the United States.

The technology to turn tallow into renewable diesel fuel has been improving over the years, leading Love’s to secure land in Hastings for the project and bringing Cargill on board in December 2019. With three protein processing locations in the state, Cargill has ready access to provide tallow.

Shannon Landauer, executive director of Hastings Chamber of Commerce and Hastings Economic Development Corp., said Heartwell Renewables is a great investment that will benefit the community for decades to come.

“To have a plant that is one of the first of its kind with the technology in place is a great position to be in,” she said. “This is not just job creation, capital investment and taxable value, but it is bringing new business-to-business opportunity, different occupations and skillsets to the workforce and a new firm investing in our local space.”

Will Vraspir
Hastings Tribune
[email protected]