Our History

Siouxland Energy Cooperative is owned by 395 farmer members and is a closed cooperative. Siouxland Energy was formed to build, own, and operate an ethanol plant near Sioux Center, Iowa. The ethanol produced from corn is sold for blending with gasoline as an octane enhancer and as a fuel. In 2007 Siouxland Energy completed an expansion project that increased production capacity to 60,000,000 gallons annually. Within the last couple of years, Siouxland Energy has completed several debottlenecking and carbon intensity projects that allow the production of a low carbon fuel at a production pace of 70,000,000 gallons per year.

Siouxland Energy also produces high-value feed co-products, wet distiller’s grain, syrup, and corn oil which are the remnants of the corn after the ethanol-producing starch is removed. These co-products are sold to nearby beef and dairy operations. This allows Siouxland Energy to not need a dryer for the co-products, which significantly reduces energy costs to the plant and also replaces VOC emissions to the atmosphere.

Several factors related to the Siouxland Energy business enable it to compete effectively in the ethanol production industry. These include a plant location in one of the top ten corn-producing counties in the United States, one of the top counties in Iowa for livestock production, good retention of employees, and farmers that have an interest in adding value to their farming operations.

Siouxland Energy is able to process corn at higher moisture levels with out drying charges, saving the farmer up to 20 cents per bushel in drying costs they would incur if sold elsewhere.

Corn is processed at a rate of 58,000 bushels per day, producing approximately 168,000 gallons of denatured ethanol per day.

After the expansion in 2007, and due to the increase in production volume, Siouxland Energy decided it needed better rail access.  In 2008 Siouxland Energy built a state-of-the-art loading terminal just south of Hudson, SD.  The rail line that goes through Hudson is a short line called the D&I Railroad.  It is owned and operated by LG Everist in Sioux Falls.  From this short line, Siouxland Energy has direct access to three Class 1 railroads in Sioux City:  The Canadian National (CN), the Burlington Northern (BNSF), and the Union Pacific (UP).  These options provide Siouxland with a very large market compared to an ethanol plant that sits on a BNSF line.  This access gives Siouxland Energy a huge advantage over many other ethanol plants in the country.

As of April 1, 2014, a new name and logo were adopted. Over the past few years, our industry has experienced many exciting changes. Some changes affect process efficiency, some affect market opportunities, and yet others affect operating methods. The Siouxland Energy Board of Directors and management team have reviewed many new technologies and have been very pleased with those implemented at Siouxland Energy. Looking ahead, we see process technology adapting to produce not only ethanol but many other forms of renewable energy such as biodiesel, isobutanol, cellulosic ethanol, and even food components for human energy.  In an effort to clarify our identity in this ever-changing environment, the Board of Directors, along with the Siouxland Energy members, approved changing the corporate name from Siouxland Energy & Livestock Cooperative to simply Siouxland Energy Cooperative. With the understanding removing the Livestock inclusion from our name may be sensitive for our livestock producing members, we assure everyone these members will continue to be a vital part of our success. However, over the past few years, technology vendors have increasingly mistaken us as livestock producers instead of ethanol refineries. Although we will continue to produce an extremely high-quality feed product for our livestock producers, our focus will be on various new forms of renewable energy production.

Siouxland Energy members are proud to do their part in improving the environment, improving the economy, and making our country less dependent on foreign oil. In 2022, Siouxland Energy adopted a new mission statement - Producing clean renewable energy through innovation, stewardship, and collaboration.