Fuel ethanol is a critical source of octane and oxygenate for U.S. gasoline, and it is aggressively mandated as a blend stock per the RFS. Most ethanol refineries are located in the Mid-Continent where corn, ethanol’s feedstock, is produced.
Ethanol’s hypertrophic properties make it difficult to transport via pipeline. Consequently, rail is the only way that it can be moved to final blending and consuming locations.
From the EPRINC Chart of the Week archive.