NORCO — Darling Ingredients Inc. and Valero Energy Corporation approved an expansion project for the Diamond Green Diesel facility in Norco — a $1.1 billion investment to the St. Charles Parish facility.

“This expansion will be an asset to our parish,” St. Charles Parish President Larry Cochran said.

“Valero and Diamond Green Diesel have been great industry partners. They not only provide jobs in our parish, but they also are generous in giving back to our community.

“I am grateful Darling Ingredients Inc. chose our Norco facility to invest in.”

The expansion, a joint venture between subsidiaries of Valero and Darling Ingredients, is expected to increase the facility’s production of renewable diesel by 400 million gallons, creating an annual capacity of 675 million gallons.

The project will form a second plant independent and parallel to the existing facility while also including a facility that is able to produce renewable naphtha.

According to company officials, the facility will produce more than 50 million gallons of naphtha, which will support the entire DGD operation.