After delays in the production at several Midwest ethanol plants, there's some good news on the renewable fuels front. Green Plains Energy is bucking the trend with their Superior, Iowa, plant.
With the ever presence of ethanol plants and mega watts of wind power in the Hawkeye state, some Iowans like to call their home the clean energy capitol of the country. However, getting here hasn't been a breeze.
Monte Shaw, the Executive Director of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association explains the ups and downs of the industry like this,"We've had a couple good years, people build a lot of plants. We maybe have a little too much supply on the marketplace right now so we're having a little bit more of a down year."
In recent years, ethanol has failed to yield the results some were looking for. High corn prices and a loss in investor confidence seem to be fueling the problem.
Wayne Hoovestal, Green Plains Renewable Energy CEO admits,"… every company has struggles is probably a good word."
Look over the horizon of Superior, Iowa, and you'll see Green Plains Renewable Energy's latest venture and success. Ethanol production began Tuesday at the 55 million gallon a year plant. The company's CEO traveled from their Omaha, Nebraska headquarters to celebrate the milestone. Though it took close to four years to take the idea from paper to production, it never fizzled.
Hoovestal explains, "We merged with Great Lakes Co-op so it gives us probably a little bit of an edge on our corn supply. That puts us in a little bit stronger position I think."
The plants supervisor says there's enough corn within a 20 mile radius to support their ethanol production.
Monte Shaw, the Executive Director of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association says,"We actually have a much more predictable corn crop than we do an oil supply from the middle east."
Shaw, ever optimistic about the renewable fuel's industry hope's this Superior plant, renews other people's faith in ethanol's future
Green Plains Renewable Energy already has a plant in Shenandoah, Iowa… and plans to open two more in other states this year.
