Centra Sota Breaks Ground on New Albany Energy Facility

Excited Energy & Feed Team Members

Day 1: Breaking Ground on New Facility

Just getting started!

Excavation Begins

Centra Sota Cooperative is excited to announce that we have officially broken ground on a brand-new Energy location in Albany—marking a major investment in improved efficiency, enhanced service, and long-term growth.

This new site will serve as a bulk fuel storage hub and will feature on-site pumps available to both Centra Sota team members and customers. Plans include an 11,000-square-foot building providing ample storage space, a two-bay truck shop, and a dedicated wash bay.

Working Smarter

Previously, Centra Sota has operated out of two aging Energy facilities—one near Albany High School and another in St. Martin. Both rely on top-load systems and can no longer keep pace with our growing operational needs.

The new site will include a bottom-load system, which offers significant improvements:

• Increased safety: Team members will no longer need to climb or work at height, greatly reducing fall risks. Less bending and heavy hose lifting will also reduce fatigue and injury potential.

• Faster loading times: The bottom-load design streamlines the loading process, increasing efficiency across operations.

Beyond the loading system upgrade, the new facility will centralize Energy operations and provide space for tire changes, oil changes, truck repairs, and expanded storage for refined fuels, DEF, lubricants, and oils.

New Facility Offers Improved Efficiency Across Multiple Divisions

While the shop will primarily support Energy and Feed vehicles, it will also assist our Agronomy fleet as capacity allows. This shared resource model will significantly reduce maintenance costs across divisions and—critically—provide greater control over scheduling and turnaround times.

With an 80' x 136' footprint and a total of 11,000 square feet, the facility is designed to deliver long-term operational flexibility and support the evolving needs of our cooperative well into the future.

Looking Ahead

Although the project was originally slated to begin in 2024, evolving regulations delayed the start. Now, with ground officially broken and plans fully underway, we are excited to bring this long-anticipated project to life.

We look forward to sharing construction updates as progress continues—and can’t wait to open the doors of our new Albany Energy location in 2026!