The Corn's Cookin' in Iowa

After leaving St. Paul, we made our way over snow-covered highways early on Sunday morning to stop in Lakota, Iowa. Even if we didn’t have directions to Global Ethanol Services (formerly Midwest Grain Processors), we probably could have found our way there by rolling down the windows and following the smell of cornbread. We hadn’t expected an ethanol plant to smell so good!

Once there, we had a chat with David Rosenmeyer, General Manager at Global Ethanol. He explained the ethanol production process to us, and also showed us through the plant so we could see it for ourselves. As it turns out, the plant produces about 100 million gallons of ethanol per year, all of which is made from corn produced on local farms within a 50-mile radius. The company began as a farmer cooperative back in 2001, and though it sold partial ownership to an LLC last year, it's still 40% owned by farmers.

Since the plant has been in Lakota, it has employed not only workers at the plant (56 today), but undoubtedly hundreds of other local residents, ranging from the guy that was plowing the parking lot when we got there, to the maintenance crews that sweep fly-away corn off the surrounding streets. And it provides nearby farmers with a guaranteed local market for their corn – about 100,000 bushels per day.

Dave assured us that the production process is 70% efficient in terms of water usage, which is higher than we expected (though certainly not perfect!) The plant also sells 650 tons of distiller’s dry grain and solubles (DDGS) each day to farms across the country that use the co-product as feed for cattle. They get about as much DDGS out of the production process as they get ethanol. The sale and use of it makes the net energy balance (the amount of energy put in divided by the amount of energy you get out) of the process much higher than it otherwise would be. Some studies have suggested that without it, ethanol production would have a negligible or even negative net energy balance. (According to University of Minnesota researchers, the net energy balance of ethanol production is about 1.3 when DDGS is included, about 1.0 when it's not. The net energy balance of gasoline production is only 0.8).

We’re now on our way to meet with some agricultural department folks in Wisconsin. More on ethanol and other biofuels after talking with them..…

Comments

[Dubious]

How do I know you guys aren't a front for General Motors and ConAgra?

We all know there ain't no such thing as a free lunch. And I've heard that's especially true for ethanol. In fact some might say ethanol will cause others to get no luch at all.

What about the dark side of some of these issues? They must be addressed if you want people to take you seriously.

Now, if you're not a front for GM keep up the good work but make it believable!

Dubious