The Nebraska ethanol and co-products industry remains a significant and stable force that contributes billions of dollars to the state’s economy, according to a new study from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
The study analyzes the industry’s economic impact from 2021-2023 and was conducted by the university’s Department of Agricultural Economics and Bureau of Business Research, in partnership with the Nebraska Ethanol Board. It reveals that the industry’s economic output compares favorably to the overall economic output of the state, other ag sectors and non-ag economic drivers. The positive impact of the Nebraska ethanol and co-products industry is spread throughout the state, directly creating 1,800 jobs at an average annual salary of about $80,000 between 2021 and 2023.
The study found that ethanol production in Nebraska has remained steady, despite fluctuations in the general economy. In 2020, overall ethanol production was 1.847 billion gallons. In 2021, 2022 and 2023, ethanol production totaled 2.036 billion, 2.018 billion and 2.008 billion gallons, respectively. With the value of co-products added in, the total value of the industry’s output in each year of the study was: $5.699 billion (2021), $6.932 billion (2022) and $6.031 billion (2023).
