"The U.S. ethanol industry produced a record 1.63 billion gallons of ethanol in 2000, according to recently released information from the Energy Information Administration.  The industry also set a new monthly production record in December of 113,000 barrels per day, breaking the previous record of 111,000 barrels per day set in October.  The year 2000 ended 160 million gallons above 1999 production of 1.47 billion gallons.  All indications suggest the industry is on target to set new production records in 2001.

A record number of new facilities are slated for ethanol production across the country. 

South Dakota.  A ground-breaking ceremony was held for a new ethanol production facility in Rosholt, South Dakota.  The Tri-State Corn Processors Cooperative and Tri-State Ethanol Company, LLC will own the 14 million gallon per year facility. 

Texas.  As noted recently in the Amarillo Globe-News, a Denver-based engineering and construction firm is conducting a feasibility study for an ethanol plant in Dumas, Texas.  Merrick and Co. is working with Ultramar Diamond Shamrock's McKee Refinery and the Dumas Economic Development Corp. to discuss the feasibility of an 80 million gallon per year facility utilizing 30 million bushels of either corn or grain sorghum.  The plant would add 35 jobs and $85 million in tax revenue. 

Nebraska.  Several existing facilities have also announced expansion projects to increase their annual production capacity.  High Plains Corporation will expand its York, Nebraska ethanol facility to 50 million gallons of annual production capacity.  "We are pleased to make this commitment to our shareholders, our employees, and to the York community," said President and Chief Executive Officer Gary Smith.  Government incentive programs, including the recently adopted Commodity Credit Corporation Bioenergy Program and the Nebraska incentive program, were cited as a significant inducement to approve the planned expansion.  The project is expected to be phased in over the next 12 months. 

In Nebraska, Governor Johanns recently awarded two proposed projects with state grant funds as part of the Nebraska Agricultural Opportunities and Value-Added Partnership Act.  The two projects, located in Kearney and Plainview, received $75,000 each.