Advanced Bioenergy mothballs smaller Aberdeen ethanol plant

In South Dakota, Advanced Bioenergy has decided to mothball its ethanol plant in Aberdeen, recognized as one of the first plants in the country, because its technology is outdated and therefore not economically viable in the face of thin margins the industry is suffering from. The company’s CEO said they should have shut down the 8.5 million gallon per year plant two years ago but kept it running. Now it would cost too much to revamp it so it became more viable, which would already be difficult at that scale. It continues to operate a larger 48.5 million gallon plant in the same town.