The 18-county region is a growing biofuel commerce center in the United States — a place to invest and produce biofuels with ethanol leading the way.  Minnesota farmers produce nearly 20 percent of the current U.S. ethanol production — an environmentally friendly alternative fuel for transportation.

Ethanol is produced from crops such as corn, grain, sorghum, wheat, sugar and other agricultural feed stocks.  Another clean burning alternative fuel is biodiesel that is produced primarily from local renewable sources: soybeans and livestock rendering.  It is an alternative to petroleum-based transportation fuel.

The rural areas of southwest Minnesota benefit from growing crops and using agricultural feed stocks and producing both ethanol and biodiesel.  Biofuels is a regional economic asset of southwest Minnesota that provides long-term, clean, renewable transportation fuel. 

The regional economic benefits are significant.  Biofuels:

• Stimulate the region's economy through new investments
• Creates new business opportunities and good-paying jobs
• Expand retail trade
• Broaden the local tax base that helps fund roads, schools, and health care facilities
• Create personal wealth
• Provide stronger corn and soybean prices
• Provide a commodity-enhanced product
• Provide a cheaper fuel.

Environmental benefits include:

• Cleaner air
• Domestic source of  renewable energy
• Promotes energy independence by reducing our reliance on foreign oil
• Part of a solution that addresses global warming.

In addition, biodiesel benefits include:

• Simple to use
• Biodegradable
• Nontoxic
• Free from sulfur and aromatics

All of the critical success factors are here to continue to build a thriving biofuels industry:

• Natural resources
• Value-added agricultural industries
• Intellectual and local capital
• Bankers experienced in biofuels financing
• Education and training for ethanol production and maintenance
• Non-profit support
• Strong state political leadership and support
• Media support
• Environmental support.

To help you find the resources you need to be a part of this growing industry, please see the Resource Directory page.  We are fortunate to have a wealth of business- support resources in our region and state.