The EIA said Minnesota's production capacity in 2016 grew to 1.16 billion gallons from 1.1 billion gallons in 2015. 

According to the EIA's data, the higher volume this year was led by production increases at Guardian Energy's plant in Janesville and Heron Lake Bioenergy in Heron Lake.

Guardian Energy increased its production to 143 million gallons a year from 100 million gallons a year previously, making it the largest producing plant in Minnesota while Heron Lake Bioenergy's production grew to 72 million gallons a year from 50 million gallons a year previously.

Nationwide, the EIA said ethanol production capacity in 2016 stood at 15 billion gallons from 14.8 billion gallons in 2015.

Of this 15 billion gallons, the EIA said the total nameplate capacity in the Midwest alone was 13.5 billion gallons.