Is Helping the Ethanol Industry Your Priority?

August 5, 2020
A black and white photo of a factory with the words pandemic-related damages to ethanol producers in 2020 and 2021

In the heat of COVID-19 shutdowns in March and April, we all watched as the ethanol industry took a heavy blow, as people quit traveling to work, to school, for pleasure and for profit. Now we know, an estimated $9 billion impact was the result.

 

You have an opportunity to help. Using the Renewable Fuels Association’s advocacy platform, you can weigh in with your elected officials and support legislation that supports ethanol.

 

If you’re still not sure, check out all the impacts a healthy and thriving U.S. ethanol industry has for our rural economies and all the products we love.

5 Reasons Helping the Ethanol Industry Should Be a Priority

 

1) Rural jobs are in danger. The COVID-19 pandemic on top of an already troubling year for the agricultural economy, has caused more than 150 ethanol plants – over three quarters of U.S. facilities – to either partially or fully idle production, with just over half the total U.S. capacity now offline. For an industry that supports more than 300,000 U.S. jobs, this is an especially hard blow for rural America.

 

2) A key corn market is at risk. Ethanol represents the largest domestic market for U.S. corn, our nation’s largest crop. This year, the industry was on track to convert more than 5.4 billion bushels of corn, valued to farmers at more than $20 billion, into ethanol and key co-products like livestock feed, corn oil and biogenic carbon dioxide.

 

3) Livestock producers need feed. Distillers grains are a valuable high-protein ethanol co-product for meat and poultry. Last year, 38 million tons of distillers grains were produced, and based on assessments of how much ethanol capacity is currently offline, we would see 18 million tons less feed production on an annualized basis.

 

4) We bring bubbles to beer and soda. Many ethanol plants, between 45 and 50, capture and sell CO2. It is estimated that ethanol plants capture 3 to 3.5 million tons of CO2 annually, approximately 40 percent of the national supply. This has many uses in the food and beverage industry, among others.

 

5) Ethanol is a key ingredient in hand sanitizer. One of the greatest stories to come out of this is the increased use of ethanol for hand sanitizer and related products. While many ethanol plants have retooled for this important product, current FDA guidelines are currently unclear and discourage broader use.

The sun is setting behind the capitol building in washington d.c.
By Lyndi Allen July 3, 2025
Illinois corn farmers will be impacted by many provisions in the Budget Reconciliation Bill that passed in both chambers this week.
By Tara Desmond July 3, 2025
Mid-Year Highlights: IL Corn Top 10 Read Stories
A map of the world with arrows pointing to trade countries
By Lyndi Allen July 3, 2025
Trade plays a critical role in driving demand for U.S. corn—not only as grain or feed, but also as fuel.
Top Videos of 2025
By Tara Desmond July 2, 2025
Harvesting the Best: A Look at IL Corn’s Top 10 Videos of 2025
By Lindsay Croke June 30, 2025
When we think of Independence Day traditions, sweet corn on the cob is as iconic as fireworks and often even more central to the celebration. According to Instacart, purchases of sweet corn surge by 380% over the annual average heading into July 4th, outranking other grilling staples like baby back ribs and burgers. But corn's role in your Fourth of July celebration goes far beyond your plate. In Illinois alone, 8,300 acres of sweet corn are harvested annually, averaging 155 cwt per acre. That’s more than 128 million pounds of locally grown sweetness fueling summer cookouts across the state. And while sweet corn makes a big impression on the grill, most of Illinois’ corn crop isn’t sweet corn - it’s field corn. Less than 1% of the state’s crop is sweet corn, while the rest is used in products that are often invisible to consumers but vital to everyday life: fuel, packaging, fireworks, and even spirits.
The sun is setting behind the capitol building in washington d.c.
By Lyndi Allen June 27, 2025
From Springfield to D.C., lawmakers are listening, and Illinois corn farmers are leading the conversations.
Show More