Central MN Ethanol Co-op is located in Little Falls Minnesota on Highway 371. The plant is located 30 miles north of St. Cloud. CMEC is the most northern ethanol plant in Minnesota. In August 1994 the Central MN Ethanol Co-op Board of Directors was formed. The goal was to build a 15 million gallon a year ethanol plant in Little Falls. The Board overcame many problems during the construction phase of CMEC; but their time, effort and persistence paid off. Construction of the plant was completed and production began in March 1999. With little operating capital and historically low ethanol prices the plant began production. Due to the strong leadership of the Board of Directors and the hard work of the staff and employees the plant improved efficiencies, lowered operating costs and increased production. CMEC purchases approximately 7.5 million bushels of corn per year from a 80 mile radius. Between March 1999 and the end of 2002, CMEC has purchased over 26 million bushels of corn from over 930 producers and produced over 68 million gallons of undenatured alcohol. CMEC's goals are to maximize plant production, risk management, to lower production costs and to satisify state & federal air emission regulations. | |
CMEC produces 200 proof (ethanol) anhydrous alcohol. For every bushel, 56 pounds, of corn that CMEC grinds, 2.72 gallons of ethanol are produced and 15 pounds of Dried Distillers Grains with Solubles. Before the ethanol can be loaded onto trucks for delivery 5% natural gasoline must be added. Fuel grade ethanol is added to gasoline to make it burn cleaner to improve air quality and improve octane. Ethanol is a renewable clean fuel oxygenate used to replace MTBE which has been known to contaminate ground water nationwide. CMEC is a dry mill plant using corn for the production of fuel grade ethanol. This creates a value added product for the local corn producer. | |
During the process of making ethanol one of the by-products of fermentation is fat, fiber and protein which are separated centrifically then collected and dried. The solids are then put through a dryer to reduce the level of moisture to 12 percent. The by-product, DDGS is used by the dairy, beef, swine and poultry industries as a feed supplement. There is a minimum crude protein of 25%, a minimum crude fat of 10%, maximum crude fiber of 15% and maximum ash of 8%. There is more detailed information at the University of Minnesota website that you can access from our links page. Wetcake Wetcake is fat, fiber and proteins in a non dried form of DDGS. The moisture content of Wetcake is 67.5% with 32.5% solids. The wetcake is also used as a feed supplement with lower cost to the end user. |
