Northwest Iowa — With two ethanol plants within 18 miles of Sheldon, this area is one of the leading ethanol producing regions of the state.
Now, a study has found that record ethanol and biodiesel production in Iowa in 2016 had a significant impact on the state’s economy. The report says renewable fuels supported more than 42-thousand Iowa jobs and generated 2-point-3-billion dollars in household income for Iowans. Study author John Urbanchuk says because the fuels are produced here in northwest Iowa, and throughout the state, impacts on the state economy are even more important.
He says the amount of ethanol that was exported to other countries also helped the state’s economy.
Urbanchuk says while ethanol production expanded in the Hawkeye state in 2016, biodiesel expansion was even greater.
Iowa’s 43 ethanol plants, including the POET Biorefining plant at Ashton and the Valero facility at Hartley, produced a combined record of 4.1-billion gallons of ethanol last year. The study was conducted by A-B-F Economics and was commissioned by the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association.
