Washington, DC
March 7, 2008
The U.S. ethanol industry produced
a record amount of fuel ethanol in 2007, according to year-end
data released recently by the U.S. Energy Department’s Energy
Information Administration (EIA) – 32 percent more ethanol than
in 2006. And capacity for ethanol production is expected to grow
another 4 billion gallons in 2008, according to the
Renewable Fuels Association
(RFA).
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) hailed this as
great news for U.S. corn growers, who are always looking for
stability and expansion in markets for the corn they produce.
“We’re excited to see such growth in the production of ethanol
and to see the expansion of the industry’s overall production
capacity,” said Steve Ruh, chairman of NCGA’s ethanol committee
and a grower from Sugar Grove, Ill. “There are so many benefits
to producing and using corn ethanol, whether it is greenhouse
gas reduction, energy security or important coproducts such as
distillers grains. Our growers are committed to working with the
ethanol industry in promoting these benefits and providing
valuable goods to the nation’s consumers.”
In its December monthly oxygenate report, released March 3, the
EIA reported that U.S. ethanol production averaged 423,000
barrels per day, for a total of 6.48 billion gallons for the
year. This is an increase of 108,000 barrels per day over 2006.
Further, according to the EIA, ethanol demand averaged 446,000
barrels per day in 2007, or 6.84 billion gallons of demand for
the year. That is an increase of more than 1.5 billion gallons
over 2006 demand.
Looking ahead in the near future, the organization sees room for
increased production to meet the requirements of an expanded
renewable fuels standard. Current ethanol plant capacity is
7.884 billion gallons, with another 5.536 billion gallons of
capacity under construction. The completion of these projects
would bring ethanol production capacity to nearly 13.5 billion
gallons.
RFA’s report on 2007 ethanol production and demand:
http://www.ethanolrfa.org/objects/documents/1541/productiondecember2007.pdf
RFA’s 2008 ethanol industry outlook publication:
http://www.ethanolrfa.org/industry/outlook/ |
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