Ethanol Production in Minnesota

Ethanol is a clear, colorless liquid made by fermenting and distilling plant material, usually corn. Ethanol has been used in recent years as an additive to gasoline. Adding oxygen allows the gasoline to burn more completely. Gasoline that burns completely pollutes the air less.

Air pollution from vehicles is the major contributor to smog and other air pollution problems. To improve air quality, Minnesota has required gas stations to sell only ethanol-blended fuel since 1997 (since 1995 in the Metro area).

Almost 20 percent of the nation's ethanol production plants are located in Minnesota. Minnesota's 14 ethanol plants produce more than 300 million gallons of ethanol each year. Because the demand for ethanol is rising nationwide, many of Minnesota's plants are in the process of expanding.

Recent Findings

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently discovered that ethanol plants emit certain air pollutants in greater quantities than previously believed.

In most cases, ethanol plants emit carbon monoxide (CO) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in greater amounts than stated by plant officials in their original permit applications. VOCs are chemicals from both natural and man-made sources; some are toxic or cause cancer. Man-made sources include vehicles, solvents, paints and glues. The VOCs being emitted in significant amounts include some or all of the following: acetaldehyde, acrolein, formaldehyde, 2-furaldehyde, acetic acid and lactic acid.

Until recently, ethanol plants and regulators were unaware of the extent of these air emissions. With this new knowledge, ethanol plants across the nation must now install more pollution controls and apply for stricter air permits. MPCA is working closely with EPA to ensure that ethanol production in Minnesota is brought in line with these findings as quickly as possible.

More Information

More information about ethanol production and recent air pollution findings are available in the following fact sheets:

Ethanol Production in Minnesota (pdf)

Air Emissions from Ethanol Plants (pdf)