Ethanol Production Inches Up

Joanna Schroeder

ethanol production eiaAccording to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), fuel ethanol production capacity was 13.9 billion gallons per year (903,000 barrels per day) as of January 1, 2013 with the majority of production located in the Midwest. The report shows a slight increase in the total capacity of operating ethanol plants (193) compared to the same time last year (194). Total nameplate capacity is 12.6 billion gallons per year (822,000 barrels per day) and this report included plants that were idled or temporarily shut down during 2012.

The next EIA annual report on ethanol production capacity is expected to be released during the spring of 2014. This report will include facility-level nameplate production capacity data, which EIA says will increase the transparency of the ethanol industry data.

biofuels, Ethanol, Renewable Energy