The Lake Erie Biofuels Plant (LEB) is the first biofuel plant located on the Great Lakes, an emerging growth sector of the biodiesel industry. This new multi-feedstock plant is designed to produce 45 million gallons of bio-diesel annually, making it one of the top ten producers in the nation. 

The plant sits on the shore of Lake Erie and is exposed to harsh weather conditions (rain, snow, wind, and sun). With much of the handrail and walkways at the plant exposed to the elements, LEB chose hot-dip galvanizing to minimize maintenance costs and to protect from corrosion. Citing durability is as key issue to the plants future, 250 tons of steel including beams, tees, plates, stringers, channels, angles, trapeze supports, handrails, stairways, platforms, and fuel line supports were hot-dip galvanized. With the commercial plant under continual operation, minimal maintenance is required to withstand the rugged work environment and reduce costs. With members of the Erie Management Project office having prior experience with galvanized steel products, the initial cost of HDG proved to be a non-issue. Hot-dip galvanizing reduces the maintenance costs and extends the life of the plant, making it a model for the 50 other plants currently in construction seeking a "green alternative" for corrosion protection.