VSE Verasun Energy Corp

BROOKINGS, S.D., Sept. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- VeraSun Energy Corp. (NYSE:VSE), one of the nation's largest ethanol producers, today announced the startup of its 110 million gallon per year (MMGY) ethanol biorefinery located near Dyersville, Iowa. The Dyersville production facility marks the 14th VeraSun biorefinery in operation, increasing the company's annual production capacity to more than 1.4 billion gallons. "We are pleased to bring another large-scale, environmentally friendly ethanol production facility on-line in the state of Iowa," VeraSun CEO Don Endres said. "The state continues to be a leader in renewable fuels production, helping our nation to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. We commend the Dyersville community, its leadership, and the local corn producers for making this day a reality." According to the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, VeraSun Dyersville is the 32nd operating biorefinery in Iowa, increasing overall annual production capacity in the state to almost 2.5 billion gallons. The Dyersville facility is VeraSun's fifth production facility in Iowa, joining other 110MMGY biorefineries in Albert City, Charles City, Fort Dodge, and Hartley. At 550MMGY of annual production capacity, VeraSun is the largest ethanol producer in the state. Located on approximately 200 acres west of Dyersville, construction on the facility began in October 2006. The biorefinery will annually process approximately 39 million bushels of corn and produce about 350,000 tons of distillers grains for livestock feed, in addition to employing approximately 55 workers. VeraSun took ownership of the plant on April 1, 2008, following its merger with U.S. BioEnergy. VeraSun Dyersville is the fifth VeraSun facility to come on-line this year, joining sister production facilities in Marion, S.D., Bloomingburg, Ohio, Hankinson, N.D., and Hartley, Iowa. About VeraSun Energy Corporation VeraSun Energy Corp. (NYSE:VSE), headquartered in Brookings, S.D., is a leading producer and marketer of ethanol and distillers grains. Founded in 2001, the company has a fleet of 16 production facilities in eight states, of which one is still under construction. VeraSun Energy is scheduled to have an annual production capacity of approximately 1.64 billion gallons of ethanol and more than 5 million tons of distillers grains by the end of 2008. VeraSun also markets E85, a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline for use in Flexible Fuel Vehicles (FFVs), directly to fuel retailers under the brand VE85(R). For more information, please visit VeraSun Energy's websites at http://www.verasun.com/ or http://www.ve85.com/. Forward-Looking Statements Statements included or incorporated by reference in this document are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. They are based upon our current beliefs and expectations, are subject to risks and uncertainties outside of our control, and actual results might differ materially from these estimates and statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ include the volatility and uncertainty of commodity prices, results of our hedging and other risk mitigation strategies, results of our acquisitions, operational disruptions at our facilities; our ability to implement our expansion strategy; development of infrastructure related to the sale and distribution of ethanol; excess production capacity in our industry; our ability to compete effectively in our industry; changes in or elimination of governmental laws, tariffs, trade or other controls or enforcement practices; environmental, health and safety laws; our reliance on key management personnel; future technological advances; limitations and restrictions contained in the instruments and agreements governing our indebtedness; and our ability to raise additional capital and secure additional financing, as more fully described in the "Risk Factors" sections of our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 and our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2008. We are not under any obligation, and expressly disclaim any obligation, to update, alter or otherwise revise any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time. DATASOURCE: VeraSun Energy Corp. CONTACT: Investors, Patty Dickerson, +1-605-696-7236, , or Media, Mike Lockrem, +1-605-696-7527, , both of VeraSun Energy Corp. Web site: http://www.verasun.com/

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