ADM Opens Ethanol Dry Mill in Columbus, Neb.

In her address to the business leaders, municipal officials, and other community representatives in attendance, Woertz noted that today’s corn ethanol is enhancing the nation’s fuel supply, reducing U.S dependence on foreign oil and strengthening rural economies.

13 Jul 2010 --- Archer Daniels Midland Company has marked the opening of its new Columbus, Neb., ethanol dry mill, which provides the Company with an additional 300 million gallons of annual ethanol production capacity.

A ceremonial ribbon-cutting at ADM’s Columbus corn processing complex featured remarks by ADM Chairman, CEO and President Patricia Woertz; U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska; Nebraska Lieutenant Gov. Rick Sheehy; Columbus Mayor Mike Moser; and John Rice, ADM executive vice president, Commercial and Production.

In her address to the business leaders, municipal officials, and other community representatives in attendance, Woertz noted that today’s corn ethanol is enhancing the nation’s fuel supply, reducing U.S dependence on foreign oil and strengthening rural economies. 

“We at ADM are proud to harness the power and ingenuity of American agriculture to help address our nation’s energy challenges.  We’re honored and privileged to have the city of Columbus, its municipal leaders and its citizens as partners in this effort,” she said. 

Rice added that the new plant’s location on ADM’s Columbus complex adjacent to a corn wet mill and to a cogeneration facility that uses steam to power turbines that generate electricity and reduce energy costs lends ADM a competitive edge in the growing ethanol marketplace. 

“Having these operations in the same complex provides us with an advantage, not just in terms of production efficiency, but also in terms of access to our nationwide transportation network, to a ready supply of Nebraska corn, and to a talented work force.”

Under the Renewable Fuels Standard established by the federal Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, the U.S. has mandated that 36 billion gallons of the nation’s fuel supply come from renewable sources by 2022. Of that total, approximately 15 billion gallons is projected to come from corn ethanol. Last year, total ethanol consumption in the U.S. was estimated at 10.6 billion gallons.

ADM’s total ethanol production capacity will reach 1.8 billion gallons per year once a second corn dry mill in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, opens later in 2010.

Ethanol is a clean-burning, high-octane motor fuel made from renewable sources. In addition to expanding its production of corn-based ethanol, ADM is working to develop advanced biofuels from biomass, such as corn stover the stalks, cobs and leaves of corn plants as well as grasses, wood and other crop residue.

ADM began operations in Columbus when it acquired a corn wet mill from Minnesota Corn Processors, LLC, in 2002.  The addition of the dry mill and cogeneration facility added approximately 150 jobs and, at peak construction, employed about 1,400 contractors. Today, ADM has more than 450 employees and 400 contractors working at its facilities in Columbus.