teaching note: the us ethanol industry with comments ... - AgManager

Teaching Note: The US Ethanol Industry
With Comments On the Great Plains
Attachment 3
Future Capacity
According to the Renewable Fuels Association, seventeen ethanol plants are
currently under construction. Almost all are new entrants to the industry, and
many are owned by farmer organizations. All are located in or near the
geographic “triangle” where the existing industry is concentrated (see Figure IV-
3). The capacities of the individual facilities range from 0.7 to 45 mgy, and the
total capacity is 337 mgy (see Table IV-2). This would bring U.S. capacity to 2.5
billion gallons per year (bgy). In addition to these plant there are proposed
facilities under discussion or development in virtually every part of the country.
V. GREAT PLAINS ETHANOL SITUATION AND OUTLOOK
With the current and planned buildup in production capacity and a significant
location advantage, the Great Plains region stands to enjoy strong economic
gains due to the expansion of the ethanol industry in the region. The move is
particularly timely as it comes amidst the legislative push to eliminate fuel
additives that are sought unsafe in many additional areas of the U.S.
©Sparks Companies, Inc. and Kansas State University
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