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- One acre of corn can produce
enough ethanol to run a car for
some 72,000 miles on E-10
Unleaded.
- For every barrel of ethanol
produced, 1.2 barrels of petroleum are displaced.
- In 2008, U.S. ethanol
production displaced the equivalent of 330,000 barrels
of imported crude oil per day—more than one large oil tanker per week
- The use of E-10 Unleaded
(10 percent ethanol/90 percent ordinary unleaded gasoline) is approved for use by every
major automaker in the world.
- One bushel of corn yields about
2.8 gallons of ethanol
- A typical 40 million gallon ethanol plant creates 32
full-time jobs and generates an additional $1.2 million in tax revenue for a community.
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Bias accusations fan dispute over ethanol plant
TOM MEERSMAN: Foes of a proposed Olmsted County site say the MPCA has skewed data supporting it, which the agency denies. 11/05/2008
No deal on Eyota plant ... yet, MPCA panel tells ethanol firm
TOM MEERSMAN: Foes fear impact on groundwater and noise near Eyota. Proponents say the facility would benefit local farmers. 10/29/2008
Small town making big noise about proposed ethanol plant
TOM MEERSMAN: Plans to build the state's next ethanol plant have roiled a small town in southeastern Minnesota. 10/27/2008
Ethanol firms have loss, liquidity trouble
DAVID PHELPS: Minnesota ethanol producers remain optimistic despite setbacks for major players based elsewhere. Farmer ownership has meant some protection. 09/18/2008
Ethanol start-up gets critical cash boost
MIKE MEYERS: Parent company BioFuel Energy extended a $20 million credit to its new Fairmont plant. 08/30/2008
Ethanol producer Biofuel Energy in trouble over losses 08/13/2008
State sued over cutoff of ethanol payments
H.J. CUMMINS: An entity with ties to the Carlson Companies' family seeks to force payments for the defunct Gopher State plant in St. Paul. 07/10/2008
Corn prices stall VeraSun ethanol plant
VeraSun Energy Corp., the second-largest U.S. ethanol producer by capacity, has delayed the opening of a 110-million-gallon-a-year distillery in Hankinson, N.D., because of rising corn prices. 06/26/2008
Minnesota rides ethanol roller coaster
H.J. CUMMINS: While the industry is in turmoil, the age and owners of Minnesota's plants keep them eyeing green. 06/24/2008
Cargill puts off plans for new ethanol plant
MATT McKINNEY: With the cost of corn rising and the price of ethanol down, the company suspended plans for a Nebraska plant. 02/27/2008
Worker killed at site of new ethanol plant
02/13/2008
Granite Falls ethanol plant to pay $300,000 MPCA fine
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency says ethanol producer Granite Falls Energy will pay a $300,000 penalty for various violations over two years. 11/29/2007
Hampton rejects plan for ethanol plant
SARAH LEMAGIE: With local opinion split on the idea, Hampton became the second south-metro township this year to reject an ethanol plant. Hampton is the second south-metro township this year to reject plans for an ethanol plant. 08/29/2007
Ethanol plants get back pay
MIKE MEYERS: Makers of the alternative fuel are getting makeup subsidies, in amounts that are to increase and continue for years. 08/26/2007
Hampton town board says no to ethanol plant
SARAH LEMAGIE: Local opinion was split on plans for an ethanol plant southeast of Farmington. 08/23/2007
Ceremonial ground breaking for Minnesota's largest ethanol plant
JANESVILLE, Minn. � Instead of shovels in the dirt, dignitaries pushed gold-painted shovels into a large trough of corn inside Trinity Lutheran School gymnasium Friday in a ceremonial groundbreaking for Minnesota's largest ethanol plant. 06/16/2007
Day two: A big believer, bettor in ethanol
STAR TRIBUNE STAFF: Since 1988, Ron Fagen's firm has built about two-thirds of the U.S. capacity. The Minnesotan invested in plants, too, and has a huge stake in the industry. 09/27/2006
State taxpayers get a share of ethanol production bill
Subsidies that helped establish the industry are only starting to go away. Plants also get federal tax credits and local inducements. 09/24/2006
Ethanol: The great corn rush
STAR TRIBUNE STAFF 09/24/2006
Cargill dipping cautious, billion-dollar toe in ethanol boom
STAR TRIBUNE STAFF: With an eye on risk, the conglomerate is working on a major expansion of its ethanol business, but with much of the focus on aiding the companies that own production plants. 09/24/2006 |
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Farmers, ethanol industry experiment with biomass 10/19/2008
Methanol fuel cell: Pint-sized power
THE ECONOMIST: Fuel-cell technology isn't new, but there's a new twist. Using methanol, the cells may be able to cheaply power electronic devices. 06/20/2008
Farmers, with an eye on ethanol, may plant more corn
ASSOCIATED PRESS: ROCHESTER, Minn.—Seed dealers in southern Minnesota expect farmers will plant anywhere from 5 percent to 15 percent more corn this year as they try to take advantage of corn prices that have risen with the demand for ethanol. 11/12/2007
Ethanol from corn
MARK BOSWELL: The efficiency of ethanol plants in the U.S. has increased over the last 20 years to produce up to 2.8 gallons of fuel for every bushel of corn processed. The production of ethanol also produces equal portions of carbon dioxide and high-protein an...09/29/2006
GRAPHIC: Ethanol refineries in the U.S.
STAFF: Ethanol refineries in the U.S.
06/28/2008
GRAPHIC: Ethanol from corn
The efficiency of ethanol plants in the U.S. has increased over the last 20 years to produce up to 2.8 gallons of fuel for every bushel of corn processed. The production of ethanol also produces equal portions of carbon dioxide and high-protein an... 06/28/2008
GRAPHIC: Ethanol in Minnesota: present and future
MARK BOSWELL: As of January 2008, Minnesota?s 17 operating ethanol facilities can produce 734 million gallons per year. New plants are expected to increase that amount to 1.8 billion gallons annually by 2011. 02/01/2008
GRAPHIC: Ethanol in Minnesota
MARK BOSWELL: Gallons of ethanol produced yearly in Minnesota since 2000, with projections 02/01/2008
GRAPHIC: Corn and ethanol prices over time
The rising price of corn and sharply falling price of ethanol have taken the momentum out of the runaway ethanol industry. Here's a look at the trend in corn and ethanol prices through time. 12/04/2007
GRAPHIC: Increasing ethanol production
Increasing ethanol production 12/04/2007
GRAPHIC: U.S. Ethanol production
U.S. Ethanol production 12/04/2007
VIDEO: Ethanol production: Milling and cooking
CHARLIE KNUTSON: Corn cobs, rocks, and other impurities are removed and the corn is ground into meal in hammer mills. Water and enzymes are added to the meal and the resulting mash is then cooked at high temperatures to sterylize it.11/01/2006
VIDEO: Ethanol production: Fermentation
CHARLIE KNUTSON:
Yeast is added to the mash and the mixture is sent to holding tanks for fermentation, the process by which yeast converts sugar to alcohol. After about 60 hours of fermentation, the mixture--now called beer--contains about 15 percent alcohol and i... 11/01/2006
VIDEO: Ethanol production: Distillation and distribution
CHARLIE KNUTSON: The fully fermented beer is distilled in continuous-flow distillation units until the alcohol content reaches 95 percent. The alcohol then moves through molecular seives to attain 100 percent strength. Gasoline is then added to denature the alcoho... 11/01/2006
VIDEO: Ethanol production: Getting the corn
CHARLIE KNUTSON:
Ethanol operations are established near large supplies of corn and rely on both on-site storage and shipments arriving by truck, rail or barge. 10/31/2006
VIDEO: Ethanol production: co-products
CHARLIE KNUTSON:
Besides carbon dioxide, there are two main co-products created in the production of ethanol. The remaining mash, called stillage, is removed from the distillation unit and transferred to a centrifuge where the components can be separated. Wet stil... 10/23/2006
GRAPHIC: How ethanol is made
The dry milling method is the most common process used to convert corn into ethanol. 12/04/2007
Ethanol blends: Renegades' recipe for a cheaper fuel
H.J. CUMMINS: Some Minnesotans are boldly burning ethanol blends in their old cars, challenging the U.S. Clean Air Act and manufacturers' warranties. 05/30/2008
E85: The ethanol blend appears to be stalling
PAT DOYLE: Gov. Pawlenty's goal of having 1,800 Minnesota gas stations sell E85 fuel by 2010 seems out of reach. 08/10/2008
Ground zero in the debate over ethanol
H.J. CUMMINS 05/11/2008
Is ethanol tapping too much water?
TOM MEERSMAN: As the industry expands, Minnesota's groundwater supply is under greater pressure. 01/28/2008
Ethanol: More harm than good?
TOM MEERSMAN: As the rush to petroleum substitutes gains momentum, a U study says a switch to biofuels would increase greenhouse gas emissions. 02/08/2008
Robert Moffitt: Minnesota needs the option of ethanol
ROBERT MOFFITT: The gasoline additive already has helped clean up air pollution in the state. 10/09/2007 |
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Do you think ethanol is responsible for higher food prices?
JOHN MCINTYRE 05/11/2008
Ethanol isn't the food villain, its producers say
MATTHEW PERRON:WASHINGTON – Farmers and ethanol producers defended their good fortune Wednesday in the nation’s capital, where more lawmakers are blaming a corn-for-fuel policy for soaring food prices. 04/30/2008
Guest letter: It turns out ethanol is more of a problem than a solution
REP. JOYCE PEPPIN 04/16/2008
Katherine Kersten: Ethanol: Is it a miracle cure or another dose of snake oil?
KATHERINE KERSTEN 02/13/2008
Editorial: Time to take stock of ethanol subsidies
Rapid investment may have triggered a glut. 10/04/2007
With oil prices dropping, ethanol might be the culprit for dropping agribusiness stocks
CHRISTOPHER LEONARD:
ST. LOUIS 01/24/2008
Strict conflict-of-interest policy keeps Missouri ethanol plant from key financial incentives
DAVID A. LIEB: JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. 01/22/2008
General Motors launches partnership with cellulosic ethanol startup Coskata 01/13/2008
DAVE CARPENTER: WARRENVILLE, Ill. 01/22/2008
Goodbye, ethanol; hello, taxes: A shift to N.H. priorities
Evangelicals take a back seat to independents, who dominate politics in the Granite State. 01/03/2008
Neal St. Anthony: State must move beyond ethanol, wind investment
NEAL ST. ANTHONY: A prominent California venture capitalist and scientist, who once worked for Cargill, says Minnesota is lagging in investing in next-generation biofuels and other alternative energies. 10/16/2007
Boom fades as ethanol floods the marketplace
MATT MCKINNEY
The growing pains of a young industry sting some ethanol producers; with plant capacity outstripping immediate demand, many expect profits to be depressed through next year. 10/10/2007
Oil, ethanol companies join to develop 'biocrude'
With oil prices rising and ethanol prices falling, Big Oil and Big Grain are reaching out to each other. 09/28/2007
Ethanol Plants Produce Energy And Jobs
LAURA FRENCH: Ethanol plants aren't just producing alternative energy � they're also creating excellent career opportunities. 11/16/2007
Inver Grove Heights ethanol producer's IPO scores with investors
PATRICK KENNEDY
Ethanol producer US BioEnergy Corp. raised $140 million in expansion capital Friday in an initial public offering that was warmly welcomed by investors.
12/16/2006
Ethanol is a partial solution to the nation's petroleum addiction
NEAL ST. ANTHONY
Recent deals indicate that the ethanol industry is here to stay as investors pour money into production. 08/08/2006
Senate approves energy bill containing auto fuel economy increase, more ethanol use
H. JOSEF HEBERT: The Senate passed a trimmed-back energy bill that would bring higher-gas mileage cars and SUVs into showrooms in the coming decade and fill their tanks with ethanol. 12/14/2007
Senate approves energy bill containing auto fuel economy increase, more ethanol use
H. JOSEF HEBERT: The Senate passed a trimmed-back energy bill that would bring higher-gas mileage cars and SUVs into showrooms in the coming decade and fill their tanks with ethanol.
12/14/2007
Summary Box: Senate approves auto fuel economy increase, more ethanol use.
The ASSOCIATED PRESS:
GREENER VEHICLES: The Senate passed a trimmed-back energy bill Thursday that would bring higher-gas mileage cars and SUVs into showrooms in the coming decade and fill their tanks with ethanol. 12/14/2007
As political winds shift, ethanol may take a hit
MIKE MEYERS: "A low-carbon fuel standard is not a direct ethanol mandate," an energy policy expert told a meeting of ethanol producers. 08/10/2007
On business: Ethanol is in best interest of state, nation
NEAL ST. ANTHONY: Gov. Tim Pawlenty's plan to double to 20 percent within seven years the amount of corn-based ethanol in Minnesota gas tanks might not be realistic. The bustling state ethanol industry already is supplying Minnesota and other states now heading for... 02/01/2005 |
