New Ethanol Record Set – Again

August 27, 2001

The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) says the ethanol industry set a production record for the month of July. According to data released today, the ethanol industry produced over 112,000 barrels per day in July. This new record exceeds the previous July record of 103,000 barrels set in 2000, an increase of almost 9%. July's record was the 21st monthly production record out of the last 22 months.

"Twenty-two months of record ethanol production send a clear signal that the public is demanding a clean, domestic, renewable fuel," said Bob Dinneen, president of the RFA. "And the ethanol industry is responding. We can meet the demand for cleaner burning fuels across the country. Our industry is expanding at a record pace - by next Tuesday there will be a dozen new ethanol plants under construction and over 30 existing plants expanding their production capabilities."

July's production record puts the ethanol industry on target to produce an annual record of more than 1.8 billion gallons of ethanol in 2001. The ethanol industry will also set a new capacity expansion record this year. The 12th new ethanol plant under construction breaks ground on Tuesday to join the 57 ethanol plants in operation.

"The ethanol industry is clearly ahead of schedule to meet the expected demand from California in 2003," said Dinneen. "With the expansions and construction already underway, there will be ample U.S. ethanol for the west coast. But we won't rest. The ethanol industry expansion will continue full speed ahead to ensure all states have a safe, domestic alternative to MTBE."