Southeast Minnesota refinery. Among three largest employers in Dodge County municipality of Claremont, population 500. Operating since 1994.
State inspectors find unhealthy air pollutants
CLAREMONT Minn. — The Al-Corn Clean Fuel ethanol factory isn’t as pure its name suggests, according to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. The agency has fined the company $40,000 for releasing asthma-triggering air-borne particles. Unacceptable emission occurred in June 2024, October 2024 and March 2025, the agency said. Besides asthma, the particles can exacerbate respiratory problems, irritate the airways, and cause difficulty breathing and nonfatal heart attacks. The agency also gigged Al-Corn for sloppy bookkeeping on emissions from July to December 2022. The company was ordered to:
> Replace grain control emission equipment.
> Correct record keeping to track violations.
> Apply for a new permit to operate.
The plant grinds 44 million bushels of corn a year and produces 130 million gallons of ethanol. Byproducts: 310,000 tons of livestock feed and 28 million pounds of corn oil. Annual revenue: $20 million.