And more ethanol plants are being constructed than ever before.
It all adds up to some exciting times for the ethanol industry - and the NEDAK Ethanol plant is part of it.
The Atkinson-based plant is one of three new plants in Northeast and North Central Nebraska scheduled to begin operations later this year.
The other two scheduled to open later this year are in Norfolk and Jackson. The only plant already operating in Northeast Nebraska is Husker Ag just east of Plainview.
Jerome Fagerland, who will manage the NEDAK plant, said the company already is purchasing corn by contract through its procurement company. The plant hopes to purchase as much corn as it can from producers in Holt County.
"Until we get going, it's hard to get a handle on it," Fagerland said.
According to the Nebraska Ethanol Industry, there currently are 15 ethanol production plants in Nebraska, producing more than 676 million gallons of ethanol each year. They require more than 300 million bushels of grain in the process.
Nebraska ranks third nationally in ethanol production. The state is the largest ethanol producer west of the Missouri River, according to the Nebraska Ethanol Industry.
Fagerland said the Atkinson plant is expected to produce about 44 million gallons of ethanol a year. It is anticipated that production will begin sometime during the fourth quarter of this year, he said.
Residents in town appear to be excited about the investment in the community and increased demand for corn spurred on by the plant.
Fagerland said it is anticipated that the plant will employ 34 workers, with Holt County supplying much of the labor force. Already, the boost of a large number of construction workers is being felt.
"I think we're looking at it as an area project, not just an Atkinson project," he said. "Everyone has been very supportive."
Jimmy Stewart, the project manager for the construction crews, said more than 100 workers are involved in building the plant, which is "about 30 percent complete."
Work on the plant began in the fourth quarter of last year, but severe winter weather after the middle of January and a wet spring slowed crews some, Stewart said.
Trucks are bringing in equipment and parts daily. Right now, a little more than half of the dryer parts are on site. The dryer will be one of the tallest aspects of the plant, extending 120 feet in the air when it is finished.
After the ethanol is produced, it will be shipped to where it is needed by train. One of the challenging aspects, however, is that the train service ends in O'Neill.
Stewart said about 6,000 feet of rail line is being constructed from O'Neill to the west where about a 1 million gallon ethanol holding tank will be located.
The site where the 1 million gallon tank will be is known as a trans-loading facility. Trucks will haul the ethanol from the Atkinson plant to the trans-loading facility. From just west of O'Neill, it will be shipped by rail where it is needed, he said.
Most of the distillers grain, which is a byproduct from the production, is expected to be used by farmers and ranchers west of the plant, Stewart said.
