The U.S. Energy Information Administration released updated data on U.S. ethanol plant capacity on Aug. 26. The number of ethanol plants remained stable between 2018 and 2019, but total nameplate capacity was up slightly.

While the total number of operational ethanol plants remained stable between Jan. 1, 2018 and Jan. 1, 2019, the EIA data shows there were regional changes to plant distribution. Petroleum Administration for Defense District (PADD) 1, comprised of states along the East Coast, and PADD 3, which includes states in the Gulf Coast, each lost one plant. PADD 2, located in the Midwest, gained two plants. No changes were reported for PADD 4, which is the Rocky Mountain region, or PADD 5, which includes the West Coast.

As of Jan. 1, 2019, the EIA reports that the U.S. had 200 operational ethanol plants, including six plants in PADD 1, 178 plants in PADD 2, four plants in PADD 3, five plants in PADD 4 and seven plants in PADD 5. That compares to 200 operational plants as of Jan. 1, 2018, including seven plants in PADD 1, 176 plants in PADD 2, five plants in PADD 3, five plants in PADD 4 and seven plants in PADD 5.

Total plant capacity increased from 16.542 billion gallons per year at the beginning of 2018 to 16.868 billion gallons per year at the beginning of 2019, a gain of 326 MMgy.

In PADD 1, capacity fell from 529 MMgy in 2018 to 467 MMgy in 2019. Capacity in PADD 2 increased from 15.046 billion gallons per year in 208 to 15.479 billion gallons per year in 2019. Capacity fell in PADD 3, from 446 MMgy in 2018 to 395 MMgy in 2019. Capacity in PADD 4 increased slightly, from 193 MMgy in 2018 to 202 MMgy in 209. Capacity in PADD 5 was stable at 325 MMgy in both years.

Additional data is available on the EIA website.