N.D. ethanol plants reaping big subsidies

BISMARCK, N.D. — North Dakota's two newest ethanol factories have collected $1.78 million in state subsidies during the past six months, in part because high corn prices have made it difficult to profit from selling the alternative fuel. From October through March, Blue Flint Ethanol, of Underwood, has received $901,521 in subsidies, state Department of Commerce records show. Red Trail Energy LLC, of Richardton, got $877,725 during the same six-month period. Both factories, which are capable of producing about 50 million gallons of ethanol annually, have been operating for less than 18 months. Red Trail began making fuel in January 2007 while Blue Flint started manufacturing ethanol the following month. Neither the Red Trail nor the Blue Flint factory began drawing state support until late last year, but both are on pace to... [read full story]