Guardian Energy Hosts Minnesota State Mankato Students

Janesville, Nov 13 - Thirteen students from Minnesota State University, Mankato toured Guardian Energy yesterday to gain a firsthand look at Minnesota's ethanol industry and the production process.

The students, enrolled in the university's Agroecology class, toured key stages of production at the plant, including incoming grain handling and grading, fermentation, ethanol shipment, and the production and shipment of dried distillers grains.

"We were pleased to once again welcome students from Minnesota State Mankato. Today's tour highlighted how Minnesota's ethanol industry lowers prices at the pump, supports our rural communities, reduces emissions, and makes America more energy independent," said Jeanne McCaherty, CEO of Guardian Energy.

Chris Ruhland, biological sciences professor at Minnesota State Mankato, noted that the tour was vital in helping his students connect classroom concepts to industrial reality.

"Now more than ever, students are recognizing the need for renewable fuels. In my class, students study how energy captured from the sun and stored in the form of starch by photosynthetic organisms can be utilized for ethanol production. Seeing how starch from corn is converted to ethanol on an industrial scale is vital to understanding this process," he said.

Today's visit marked the sixth consecutive year Ruhland has brought his Agroecology students to Guardian Energy.

"The team at Guardian Energy in Janesville has always been transparent about the process and answers all questions asked of them. It is definitely a highlight of my class," he added.

The tour was organized by the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association (MN Bio-Fuels). Guardian Energy is a member of MN Bio-Fuels.