Green Plains, Inc. has announced that it will install equipment necessary to capture 1.2 million tons of carbon dioxide annually from their three ethanol refineries in Nebraska.  The captured greenhouse gas will be piped to Wyoming for sequestration in deep wells.  The company claims production of 287 million gallons of ethanol annually. The project will be complete by the second half of 2025.

Green Plains is to be complemented on their environmental concern.  The statement raises the question as to the disposition of carbon dioxide by other ethanol producers since the gas represents a significant byproduct of corn fermentation.

The ethanol industry justifies its existence on the basis of sustainability.  Since one third of the volume of corn is converted to carbon dioxide, the ethanol industry is responsible for a considerable quantity of carbon dioxide most of which is currently vented to the atmosphere contrary to the claims of environmental benefit.