Al-Corn Clean Fuel, LLC, an ethanol plant in Dodge County, paid $40,427 in fines for air permit violations. A Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) investigation found that Al-Corn Clean Fuel, LLC exceeded its permitted limits of particulate matter (PM) three times in June 2024, October 2024 and March 2025. Prolonged exposure to PM can cause aggravated asthma, increased respiratory symptoms such as irritation of the airways or difficulty breathing, and nonfatal heart attacks. Al-Corn Clean Fuel, LLC also did not keep emissions records correctly from July 2022 to December 2022.
The facility took the following corrective actions to return into compliance:
- replaced emission equipment that failed performance testing
- submitted a plan to ensure record keeping when corrective actions occur
- submitted a permit amendment
The MPCA remains committed to protecting human health and the environment by enforcing rules and regulations and limiting pollution emissions and discharges from facilities. When companies do not fully comply with regulatory requirements, the resulting pollution can be harmful to people and the environment.
When calculating penalties, the MPCA considers how seriously the violations affected or could have affected the environment, and whether they were first-time or repeat violations. The agency also attempts to recover the economic benefit the company gained by failing to comply with environmental laws in a timely manner.