Improving the Triple Bottom Line

Sustainability is about more than just the environment. As important as that is, we cannot have sustainable production without taking into account economic and community sustainability.

The folks at Farmers’ Ethanol in Ohio call that the triple bottom line – profit, people and planet. The company is dedicated to transforming the corn ethanol industry by combining energy and food production within the same facility.

Green Car Congress did an excellent profile on Farmers’ Ethanol and how their approach could dramatically reduce corn ethanol’s carbon footprint:

The fermentation and distillation process is similar to a conventional plant, but the facility will be fueled by the steam heat from a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) generator.

The ethanol plant will be capable of producing 23 million gallons/year. In addition to providing the heat for system processes, the CHP generator will provide 7.5MW of green electricity. The generator is fueled by the methane produced by an anaerobic digester. The anaerobic digester is fed the waste from the distillation process and the wastes from 2,000 dairy cattle and 10,000 beef cattle being raised on the site. The cattle will get part of their daily food ration from wet distillers grain (WDG) which is a by product of the ethanol fermentation.

Interesting concept they believe can be “franchised” around the country and adapted to different feedstocks.