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ETHANOL
PRODUCTION IN THE U.S.
Current
U.S. Ethanol Production
U.S. ethanol production
has grown significantly in recent years. In 2004, 81 ethanol plants
in 20 states produced a record 3.41 billion gallons of ethanol—an
increase of more than 20 percent over 2003 and up an incredible 109
percent from 2000. (Source: Renewable Fuels Association)
Much of the expansion
is due to the dramatic growth of farmer-owned co-ops investing in new
ethanol production facilities. According to the Renewable Fuels Association,
farmer-owned cooperatives are responsible for the majority of ethanol
production capacity since 1990.
States
with Ethanol Facilities
According to the Renewable Fuels Association (www.ethanolrfa.org), ethanol
plants can be found in the following states, listed in descending order
according to their total ethanol production capacity:
1) Iowa
2) Illinois
3) Minnesota
4) Nebraska
5) South Dakota
6) Wisconsin
7) Kansas
8) Indiana
9) Missouri
10) Tennessee
11) Michigan
12) North Dakota
13) New Mexico
14) Texas
15) Kentucky
16) California
17) Wyoming
18) Ohio
19) Colorado
20) Washington
Note: These January
2005 figures include gallons currently under construction.
Coproducts
of Ethanol Production
A modern dry mill ethanol plant produces 2.8 gallons of ethanol from
one bushel of corn. But ethanol plants don’t make just ethanol.
Depending on the
type of facility, a number of other coproducts result from ethanol production—adding
even more value to the corn and to the economy. Dry mill facilities
also produce distillers dried grain with solubles (DDGS) and carbon
dioxide. Ethanol wet mills can also produce corn gluten meal, corn gluten
feed, sweeteners and corn oil.
DDGS and gluten
feed are high value feeds used in the livestock industry. These feeds
have been shown to improve feeding efficiencies and help livestock producers
improve their profitability.
Carbon dioxide is
used in the food processing and bottling industries. And sweeteners
and corn oil are also major ingredients in many of the foods we all
enjoy.
Environmental
Impact of Ethanol Production
Ethanol production plants must undergo a strict and complex permitting
and compliance process before they are built. Additionally, they are
subject to inspections and evaluations to ensure that they maintain
ongoing compliance in a complex and ever changing regulatory structure.
Regulations are intended to ensure environmental quality—and America’s
ethanol producers are committed to meet these standards now and in the
future.
Furthermore, a number
of recent and reputable studies have shown that ethanol production is
a net energy winner. In other words, ethanol production results in more
energy than is consumed in producing the ethanol—including all
manufacturing and distribution and the energy it takes to plant, grow
and harvest the corn that is used as the raw feedstock for ethanol production.
Last
reviewed June 10, 2005
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