The ethanol industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the United States. The industry has been growing more rapidly over the last several years dues to environmental issues (such as MTBE contamination), national security, and the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The U.S. Energy Bill signed by President George Bush on August 8, 2005 established a Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) which requires the use of 4 billion gallons of renewable fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel by 2006 increasing to 7.5 billion gallons by 2012. According to one analysis, the establishment of this RFS will do the following to the U.S. economy. Spark $6 billion (2005 dollars) of new investment to build 4.3 billion gallons of new ethanol capacity; Add nearly $200 billion (2005 dollars) to GDP; Generate an additional $43 billion (2005 dollars) of household income for all Americans; Create more than 230,000 new jobs in all sectors of the economy; and Displace over 2 billion barrels of crude oil. Currently, ethanol production is centered in the Midwest, but that region is quickly becoming saturated with ethanol plants. As the industry moves into other regions, site selection, feasibility and technology selection become increasingly important. For example, the standard production dry-grind template that works in the Midwest may not work outside of the "corn-belt." Innovative value-added technologies will most certainly be required to construct a successful project outside of the primary ethanol production region. Corn Fractionation and the development of cellulosic ethanol feedstocks are some examples of the technology shifts that will be occurring in the ethanol industry as it expands out of the Midwest. There are many frequently asked questions concerning the development of new ethanol projects that FBA has worked for years to solve. The correct answers will make a significant difference in the bottom line of your ethanol project. FBA offers complete objectivity and professional experience that will enable you to move forward with confidence and precision on your ethanol project. Please click here to review some of the Frequently Asked Questions concerning new ethanol ventures. To fully review how FBA Consulting can assist your ethanol venture please see the About Us section of this website. References are available as well as a list of completed projects. FBA Consulting also offers its clients and partners access to a wealth of information collected over the years concerning value-added agriculture; biofuels; and other innovative activities. NEW! FBA Analytical Tool: Estimate the effect on financial returns for a 50 million gallon plant based on changing fuel prices for an ethanol or biodiesel plant. (MS-DOS application, zip format) Tags: Ethanol Feasibility Study, Ethanol Producer, Cellulose to Ethanol Technology