Spiritwood, ND — May 28, 2025 — Today marks a major milestone for Dakota Spirit AgEnergy (DSA) as the company celebrates the 10-year anniversary of commencing operations. On this day in 2015, DSA received its first delivery of corn from area farmers, marking the beginning of continuous ethanol production.
Over the past decade, DSA has emerged as a cornerstone of North Dakota’s bioeconomy, advancing the use of homegrown resources to produce low-carbon energy. The Spiritwood facility has not only supplied renewable fuel but also supported the state’s broader sustainability goals and industrial innovation advancing agriculture and energy
“We’ve had a decade of innovation, sustainability, and economic impact in North Dakota’s energy and agricultural sectors,” said Jeff Zueger, CEO of Harvestone Low Carbon Partners, parent company of Dakota Spirit. “This anniversary is really about the people — the local farmers who supply our corn, the employees who keep our operations running, and the community that has supported us every step of the way. Their commitment and collaboration have been the foundation of our success.”
A Decade of Accomplishments
Since beginning operations in 2015, Dakota Spirit AgEnergy has:
- Created over 40 high-paying and sustained full-time jobs.
- Produced over 694 million gallons of denatured ethanol, contributing to U.S. energy independence.
- Generated nearly 24 million gallons of corn oil, a valuable co-product used for renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel.
- Processed more than 235 million bushels of locally grown corn.
- Purchased an average of 23 million bushels of corn annually, bolstering the local agricultural economy.
- Supported feeding approximately 180,000 cattle per year through byproduct utilization.
Sustained Growth Over the Decade
Dakota Spirit’s operations have steadily grown in capacity and efficiency since its first full year of production:
- Ethanol production increased by over 20%, rising from 68 million gallons in 2016 to over 83 million gallons in 2024.
- Corn usage expanded by 21%, growing from 24 million bushels in 2016 to 28 million bushels in 2024, reflecting both increased demand and improved throughput.
Dakota Spirit’s legacy over the past ten years has been one of leadership in renewable fuels and rural revitalization, and its team remains committed to building a sustainable energy future while improving the communities where we work and live.
About Harvestone Low Carbon Partners (HLCP)
Harvestone Low Carbon Partners, LP (HLCP) is a low-carbon biofuels producer operating at the intersection of traditional ethanol manufacturing and the energy transition. HLCP operates three corn-based, dry-mill ethanol facilities producing nearly 220 million gallons of ethanol per year. These facilities include Blue Flint and Dakota Spirit AgEnergy in North Dakota, and Iroquois Bio-Energy Company in Indiana. All three plants are strategically located atop geology that enables HLCP to pursue fully integrated carbon capture and sequestration. HLCP’s Vision Carbon Zero is a multi-phased initiative aimed at achieving net-zero carbon emissions across its facilities.
SOURCE: Dakota Spirit AgEnergy News Release