Winthrop, April 11- Twenty students from Central High School in Norwood Young America toured Winthrop’s Heartland Corn Products today to learn more about clean renewable Minnesota energy.

During the tour, the students learned about the various processes in ethanol production at Heartland Corn Products, which produces 110 million gallons of ethanol a year.

This is the third time students from Central High School have toured Heartland Corn Products. The school first toured Heartland Corn Products in March 2016 and visited again in May 2017.

“We once again have the opportunity to host Central High School students in our facility to provide them with a deeper understanding of how Minnesota-grown ethanol is produced.”

“Tours like these showcase how a homegrown renewable ingredient is converted into a clean fuel that continues to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions,” said Scott Blumhoefer, vice president of Heartland Corn Products.  

The students, from grades 9 to 12, learned about incoming grain grading, grain handling, fermentation, grain storage, combined heat and power operations, dried distiller grain production and storage, liquefaction and ethanol storage and shipment.

The tour was organized by the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association, a non-profit trade organization that represents the ethanol industry in Minnesota. Heartland Corn Products is a member of the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association.

“We are pleased that Central High School is utilizing these tours as a part of their curriculum. It’s important for students to learn about clean, Minnesota-produced, renewable energy and how it reduces harmful emissions and supports the local economy,” said Tim Rudnicki, executive director of the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association.

Heartland Corn Products is one of the largest plants in Minnesota and was built in 1995.

The school’s agriculture teacher, Jim Mesik, who has accompanied his students on every tour to Heartland Corn Products, said that ethanol is part of the curriculum for the small gas engines class on fuel and fuel systems at Central High School. 

“This tour teaches students where our most common renewable fuel comes from and the by-products that are associated with the ethanol production process,” he added.