11 Best Ethanol Stocks To Invest In Now

4. Green Plains Inc. (NASDAQ:GPRE) 

Number of Hedge Fund Investors: 25

Green Plains Inc. (NASDAQ:GPRE) is a leading North American producer of renewable fuels, high-protein feed ingredients, and clean sugars. The company operates a diversified portfolio of assets, including ethanol plants, protein production facilities, and clean sugar technology.

Green Plains Inc. (NASDAQ:GPRE) is actively pursuing a project to decarbonize its 287 million-gallon ethanol footprint in Nebraska, which is expected to be one of the largest and earliest platforms for carbon sequestration in the industry. This initiative, known as the “Advantage of Nebraska” strategy, involves the construction of carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) facilities at several of the company’s plants, including Central City, Wood River, and York. The decarbonization efforts are part of a broader plan to capitalize on the growing demand for low-carbon fuels and the associated financial incentives. The company expects to generate approximately $130 million in annual earnings from carbon credits starting in the second half of 2025, assuming the current 45Z credit value and $70-ton carbon credit.

In addition to decarbonization, Green Plains Inc. (NASDAQ:GPRE) is leveraging its patented Clean Sugar Technology, which allows a dry-grind ethanol plant to produce high-quality dextrose and glucose syrups to differentiate its ethanol business and capture new market opportunities. These syrups are used in food and beverage formulations, as well as in the fermentation and catalytic conversion processes for renewable chemicals and bio-based materials such as bioplastics, biochemicals, synthetic biology, and alternative proteins.