List of South Dakota Ethanol Plants

Despite controversy over ethanol using more fossil fuel energy to produce than it saves, the demand for ethanol continues to grow. According to the Nebraska Energy Office, as of June 2010 the ethanol production capacity in the United States was approximately 13.5 billion gallons per year with another 1.2 billions per year of capacity under construction. South Dakota ranks fifth nationwide with a total production capacity of 1.016 billion gallons per year and and additional 33 million gallons of additional capacity under construction.

Dakota Ethanol has a plant in Wentworth producing 50 million gallons of ethanol per year. The Wentworth plant produces just under 5 percent of South Dakota's ethanol.

Glacial Lakes Energy has two ethanol plants in South Dakota. Their plant in Watertown produces 100 million gallons of ethanol per year. Their other plant in Mina, SD produces produces 107 million gallons per year. Together the two plants produce about 20 percent of South Dakota's ethanol.

Heartland Grain Fuels has two ethanol plants in South Dakota. The plant in Aberdeen produces 50 million gallons per year and the plant in Huron 32 million gallons per year. Heartland Grain Fuels produces 8 percent of South Dakota's annual production.

North Country Ethanol in Rosholt produces 20 million gallons of ethanol per year, 2 percent of the total for South Dakota.

NuGen Energy in Marion has an annual production of 110 million gallons, about 11 percent of the statewide total.

POET Biorefining is South Dakota's largest ethanol producer. They have plants in Big Stone, Chancellor, Groton, Hudson, Mitchel and Scotland, which produce a total of 377 million gallons of ethanol a year, 37 percent of South Dakota's annual production.

Redfield Energy in Redfield produces 50 million gallons per year, 5 percent of the total ethanol produced in South Dakota.

Valero Renewable Fuels in Aurora produces 120 million gallons of ethanol every year, a contribution of 12 percent of the total production in South Dakota.

Heartland Grain Fuels is adding an additional 33 million gallons of capacity to their plant in Huron. This will bring their Huron operation to 65 million gallons annually and raise South Dakota ethanol production to 1.049 billion gallons per year.