Caption: Al-Corn Clean Fuel CEO, Randall Doyal, briefing students from Owatonna High School's Agriculture Exploration class on Nov 19.

Claremont, Nov 26 – Students from Owatonna High School toured Al-Corn Clean Fuel twice this month to get a better understanding of how clean renewable energy is produced. 

The first tour was on Nov 5 while the second tour was on Nov 19. 

During both tours, the students learned about the different components of ethanol production such as incoming grain grading, grain handling, grain storage, liquefaction, fermentation, distillation, distiller grain drying, corn oil separation, product storage and product shipment.

The first tour on Nov 5 comprised of 28 students from the school's Agriculture Economics class while the Nov 19 tour comprised of 21 students from the school's Agriculture Exploration class. 

“The ethanol industry plays a vital role in boosting the economy in rural Minnesota. Our plant sources 44 million bushels of corn a year from local farms to produce 130 million gallons of ethanol,” said Randall Doyal, chief executive officer at Al-Corn Clean Fuel.

Founded in 1994, Al-Corn Clean Fuel also produces 310,000 tons of dried distillers grains with solubles (a high protein livestock feed) and 28 million pounds of corn oil a year.

“Ethanol is a clean fuel that reduces harmful greenhouse gas emissions, saves consumers at the pump and makes America more energy independent,” said Tim Rudnicki, executive director at MN Biofuels.

Owatonna High School Agriculture Teacher, Liz Tinaglia, accompanied her students during the Nov 19 tour.

“My students do enjoy learning about the chemistry and technology used in the ethanol industry,” said Tinaglia.

Caption: Owatonna High School's Agriculture Economics students at Al-Corn Clean Fuel on Nov 5.