Biofuels in Minnesota

by Keith Griffin.
Last Updated by Keith Griffin.

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Minnesota is a growing commerce center for biofuels in the United States. This agricultural area is a natural fit for production of these liquid fuels from plant materials and animal byproducts.

Biofuels is a regional economic asset that provides long-term, clean, renewable transportation fuel. Domestic production of these fuels also reduced our dependence on foreign oil.

ETHANOL

Minnesota farmers produce nearly 20 percent of the current U.S. ethanol supply. Its primary use is an environmentally friendly alternative fuel for transportation, especially as an additive for gasoline. Because ethanol-enriched fuel contains more oxygen it burns cleaner.

From crops

Ethanol is made from starch- and sugar-based crops: corn, grain, sorghum, wheat, sugar beets.

From residue and non-food feedstock

It can also be made from non-food cellulosic feedstock: corn stover (stalks, husks, cobs, leaves), other crop residue, wood chips, forestry residue, organic municipal wastes, and switch grass.

Ethanol production plants use a fermentation process that converts the plant sugars into alcohol. This fuel is then used as a blending agent with gasoline. Most gasoline in the U.S. contains at least 10% ethanol today. Flex-fuel vehicles run on an E85 blend which contains 85% ethanol.

BIO-DIESEL

This fuel can be made from vegetable oils or animal fats and offers another clean burning alternative fuel.

Sources:

It is produced primarily from local renewable sources such as soybeans, livestock rendering, recycled restaurant grease, and algae. Soy oil is the most common source of biodiesel in the U.S. today.

Uses:

It is an alternative to diesel-powered based vehicles and is often used as an additive to diesel fuel reduce environmental effects.

B20 is a blend of 20% biodiesel and 80% petroleum diesel. It is the most common biodiesel blend in the United States. B2 and B5 blends are also available.