Reportable Segments and Geographic Information - (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Segment for the results of operations
Revenues from continuing operations	$ 1,018,169	$ 584,372	$ 560,643	$ 478,209	$ 519,761	$ 596,324	$ 578,900	$ 688,002	$ 2,641,393	$ 2,382,987	$ 2,154,655
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									389,161	309,499	(96,769)
Depreciation and amortization expense, net									58,755	37,242	35,368
Cash paid for purchases of property, plant and equipment									42,518	46,453	67,557
Goodwill	16,080				16,080				16,080	16,080
Assets	1,785,349				1,107,096				1,785,349	1,107,096
Biomass-based Diesel
Segment for the results of operations
Revenues from continuing operations									2,380,736	2,157,897
Services
Segment for the results of operations
Revenues from continuing operations									99,086	93,347
Corporate and other
Segment for the results of operations
Revenues from continuing operations									270,326	249,152	213,500
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									(5,415)	(10,091)	(35,743)
Depreciation and amortization expense, net									1,763	3,026	3,265
Cash paid for purchases of property, plant and equipment									111	247	2,997
Assets	425,602				379,658				425,602	379,658
Assets held for sale
Segment for the results of operations
Assets	0				3,250				0	3,250
Operating Segments | Biomass-based Diesel
Segment for the results of operations
Revenues from continuing operations									2,380,736	2,157,897	2,039,982
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									388,484	314,727	(63,925)
Depreciation and amortization expense, net									54,513	32,558	31,011
Cash paid for purchases of property, plant and equipment									40,567	41,906	60,734
Assets	1,711,870				914,843				1,711,870	914,843
Operating Segments | Services
Segment for the results of operations
Revenues from continuing operations									99,086	93,347	103,215
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									6,092	4,863	2,899
Depreciation and amortization expense, net									2,479	1,658	1,092
Cash paid for purchases of property, plant and equipment									1,840	4,300	3,826
Goodwill	16,080				16,080				16,080	16,080
Assets	69,144				63,720				69,144	63,720
Intersegment revenues
Segment for the results of operations
Revenues from continuing operations									(108,755)	(117,409)	$ (202,042)
Intersegment eliminations
Segment for the results of operations
Assets	$ (421,267)				$ (254,375)				$ (421,267)	$ (254,375)