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Written by Dawn Caldwell, Executive Director, Renewable Fuels Nebraska
The renewable fuels industry in Nebraska is strong — and thanks to our partnership with experts across the Agricultural Research Division of the University of Nebraska, we aim to make it even stronger.
Already, Nebraska’s ethanol industry produces more than 2 billion gallons of homegrown fuel each year. That generates over $6 billion annually in total economic impact, including through support for 1,800 jobs.
Just as importantly, renewable fuels save money for drivers around the country and put money in the pockets of farming families across the state. Ethanol alone reduces the cost of gas by 77 cents per gallon. And the demand it drives for corn can be as much as 50 percent to each bushel’s value.
We refuse to rest on those laurels, though. Just as researchers and scientists across the ARD helped pioneer the use of distillers grains as livestock feed or develop drought-tolerant corn strains that ensure our producers have crucial and consistent inputs, it is crucial to continue to seek new opportunities for our producers to help grow our state’s bioeconomy.
That includes the ability not only to sell E15 year-round but also to commercialize the use of ethanol in ocean-going vessels and of course, getting the ethanol to jet/Sustainable Aviation Fuel scaled up. Now that many ethanol plants are capturing CO2 rather than emitting it, another array of potential products and opportunities lies ahead.
Our state succeeds when every member of our bioeconomy works together. Renewable Fuels Nebraska and our members are proud of the achievements we’ve made alongside our partners across the ARD over the last few decades.
I have no doubt that we’ll accomplish so much more through the strength of those relationships and our shared commitment to growing Nebraska in the years to come.