An ethanol plant near Hankinson, North Dakota that was put on hold indefinitely earlier this summer will begin production, according to this VeraSun announcement made yesterday. 

From the announcement:

We are pleased to be bringing our Hankinson facility into operation, adding production to our fleet and additional fuel to our domestic supply,” said VeraSun CEO Don Endres. “It is the result of the hard work and dedication of our employees, the community, and the state’s leadership, that we are able to nearly double the ethanol production capacity of North Dakota with its first 110-million-gallon biorefinery.”

And:

“The decision to begin production at Hankinson is based on a number of factors, including an improved margin environment as well as other business considerations unique to the facility,” Endres said. “We continue to closely monitor market conditions and make decisions that are in the best interest of our company.”

I have to admit, I’m curious about the business considerations unique to the facility. 

I’m still leary of corn-based ethanol, but I do wonder if ethanol plants like this one could someday be converted to cellulosic ethanol plants.  If so, then the startup of this plant is a foot in the door.  If not, maybe it’s a waste of energy in more ways than one.  We shouldn’t be depending on government subsidies to keep our ethanol plants running.

After all that, I still tend to hope that it’s paving the way for something better.