Fedorchak, NDSU: Year-round E15 would strengthen North Dakota’s $7.3 billion corn industry, lower fuel costs

Key findings presented during the roundtable included:

• Corn supports billions of dollars in economic activity far beyond the farm gate. From 2020 through 2022, North Dakota's corn industry generated an average of $7.3 billion annually in gross business volume, supported nearly 19,000 jobs, produced $1.9 billion in labor income, and contributed nearly $160 million in state and local government revenue. Stronger corn demand benefits transportation companies, equipment dealers, agricultural suppliers, rural businesses, workers, and local governments across the state.

• Ethanol helped transform corn into one of North Dakota's major crops. North Dakota farmers planted an estimated 4.4 million acres of corn in 2026, up from just 500,000 acres in 2005. The expansion of the ethanol industry created a major new market for corn, allowing North Dakota farmers to diversify their operations and add value to crops closer to home.

• North Dakota ethanol plants provide a dependable market for a significant share of the state's corn crop. The state's five ethanol plants use approximately 210 million bushels of corn each year-between one-third and more than half of North Dakota's crop in a typical year. Greater E15 use would strengthen demand for these facilities and the farmers who supply them.

• Year-round E15 would increase demand for both ethanol and corn. Analysis by the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute at the University of Missouri projects that nationwide, year-round E15 sales would increase ethanol production, corn production, and the price farmers receive for their corn. For North Dakota producers facing high input costs and low commodity prices, a larger domestic market would provide meaningful support.

• E15 can offer drivers real savings at the pump. As of August 15, E15 was selling for approximately 15 cents per gallon less than regular gasoline in Fargo-a discount that more than offsets the fuel's slight difference in energy content. Making E15 available year-round would give consumers consistent access to a lower-cost fuel option instead of restricting its sale during the summer driving season.

• Expanded ethanol production would attract investment and add value to more North Dakota corn. Gevo recently announced plans to construct a second 75-million-gallon-per-year ethanol facility at its Richardton site. The expansion could create a market for an additional 27 million bushels of North Dakota corn each year, keeping more of the crop's value-and the economic activity it creates-within the state.

• Ethanol can connect two of North Dakota's largest industries: agriculture and energy. Ethanol plants produce a relatively pure, low-cost CO₂ byproduct that could generate revenue through low-carbon fuel markets or serve as an in-state source of CO₂ for enhanced oil recovery as infrastructure develops.