For the past 22 of 23 months, the U.S. ethanol industry has set monthly production records and is well on track to set an annual production record in 2001.  According to the most recent data released by the Energy Information Administration, the industry produced over 114,000 barrels per day in August, exceeding the previous August record of 98,000 barrels per day set last year.

Record expansion goes hand in hand with the production increase.  Expansions are underway or planned for 34 of the 57 existing ethanol production facilities, adding 236 million gallons to existing production capacity. 

• Northeast Missouri Grain Processors of Macon, Missouri has decided to double their production capacity to nearly 40 million gallons.  As part of the expansion, Northeast Missouri Grain Processors also plans to add equipment to liquefy, compress and sell carbon dioxide.
• Cargill has announced it will increase production at its ethanol facility in Blair, Nebraska by 8 million gallons per year. 
• High Plains Corporation has completed improvements to its York, Nebraska ethanol facility to increase production capacity to 50 million gallons per year.  
  
  In addition to expansions, thirteen new plants are under construction and dozens more are in the financing and planning phase.