Ethanol – Ethanol (also known as ethyl alcohol or grain alcohol) is a clear, colorless liquid made by fermenting and distilling some type of vegetation, most commonly corn.  Federal law mandates mixing an increasing portion of biofuels into the national fuel supply.  By 2022, the U.S. gas supply must include 36 billion gallons of renewable fuels, including 15 billion gallons from corn-based ethanol and 21 billion gallons from advanced biofuels such as cellulosic ethanol.  The following Renewable Fuels Association webpage contains a list of ethanol plants in the USA:  http://www.ethanolrfa.org/industry/locations/.

Feedstocks

• Corn Starch - Almost all ethanol produced in the Midwest is based on corn as the feedstock.
  
  
• Cellulose – Cellulose is the structural component of the primary cell wall of plants and can be derived from sources such as woodchips, grasses, corn stover (leaves, stocks or cobs).  Cellulose is pretreated with acid to break down the cellulose into sugars, which then are fermented into ethanol in the same manner as a corn ethanol plant.  There are no commercial cellulosic ethanol plants in the Midwest yet.  The following are examples of cellulosic ethanol projects:
  
  
  • POET, LLC – POET (http://www.poetenergy.com/) has opened a demonstration cellulosic plant to produce 20,000 gallons of ethanol a year from corn cobs and fiber.  The demonstration plant is in Scotland, South Dakota.  POET is planning a larger commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol plant scheduled to open in Emmetsburg, Iowa, in 2010.
    
  • Central Minnesota Ethanol Coop (CMEC) – CMEC (http://www.centralmnethanol.com/) will be conducting a pilot project to study the feasibility of building a commercial scale cellulosic ethanol plant using wood chips.

Biodiesel - Biodiesel is a renewable, biodegradable, mono alkyl ester combustible liquid fuel derived from plant oils, animal fats, and waste oil.  To be classified as biodiesel, a fuel must meet American Society for Testing and Materials specification D6751-07 for biodiesel fuel (B100) blend stock for distillate fuels.  The following EPA webpage provides information regarding biodiesel: http://www.epa.gov/SmartwayLogistics/growandgo/documents/factsheet-biodiesel.htm

Feedstocks

• Plant Oils
  • Canola
  • Soybean
  • Algae
    
    
• Animal Fats
  
  
• Waste Oil

Biomass to Energy – This category of fuel includes any organic matter used for generating electricity and power, including industrial process heat and steam, as well as for a variety of bio-based products.  Biomass to energy can be done with direct combustion of the biomass or after a biomass feedstock is converted into biogas/syngas.  The following EPA webpage provides information regarding producing energy from biomass:  http://www.epa.gov/CHP/basic/renewable.html.

Feedstocks

• Forestry Residue
  • Wood
    
    
• Agricultural Residue
  • Corn Stover
    
    
• Animal Waste
  • Turkey Litter
    
    
• Crops
  • Grass
    
    
• Municipal
  • Solid Waste

Biogas/Syngas –Biogas is a gas made by the biological decomposition of organic matter in the absence of oxygen.  Biogas contains methane which can be used as fuel to produce steam and/or electricity.  Biogas can also be produced through other gasification technologies.  The following EPA webpage provides information regarding producing energy from biogas:  http://www.epa.gov/CHP/basic/catalog.html#biomasscat.

Feedstocks

• Landfill Gas – Methane generated in landfills is collected and used to produce heat, electricity and transportation fuel.  The following EPA webpage provides information about this source of energy and lists individual projects:  http://www.epa.gov/landfill/proj/prof/index3.htm.
  
  
• Livestock Manure - Methane from confined animal feeding operations is captured and used to generate electrical power or heat.  The following EPA webpage provides information regarding this source of energy and lists individual projects:  http://www.epa.gov/agstar/operational.html.
  
  
• Wastewater – Methane generated in anaerobic digesters at wastewater treatment facilities can be used to produce heat and electricity.  The following EPA webpage provides information regarding this source of energy and lists individual projects:  http://www.epa.gov/CHP/markets/wastewater.html.
  
  
• Wood Chips/Corn Cobs – These materials are gasified and burned in boilers as fuel.  The following is an example of a facility utilizing this technology: Chippewa Valley Ethanol Company (http://www.cvec.com/index.asp)