Nebraska has the fourth largest ethanol production capacity in the country, based on the latest federal figures. As of May 2005, Nebraska has the capacity to produce 523 million gallons of ethanol, which is 11 percent of the nation's capacity of 4.7 billion gallons. Iowa has the largest production capacity (1,532.5 million gallons which is 32 percent of the nation's total), and Washington has the smallest production capacity (0.7 million gallons).
The figures include gallons currently under construction although the Renewable Fuels Association does not include six of Nebraska's new plants. The plants shut down for the next 12-18 months to begin building larger facilities or to secure financing needed for expansion.
The ethanol section of the state energy office's energy statistics has more information.
See the archive for reports from prior months.