Property, Plant, and Equipment

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

PROPERTY, PLANT, AND EQUIPMENT

4.    PROPERTY, PLANT, AND EQUIPMENT

In September 2021 and 2020, we reduced the estimated useful lives of our ethanol plants in Jefferson, Wisconsin and Riga, Michigan, respectively, which reduced their net book values to estimated salvage value. The additional depreciation expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 of $48 million and $30 million, respectively, resulting from these changes did not have a material impact on our results of operations nor was there a material impact to our financial position.

The Jefferson plant was temporarily idled in 2020 at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in response to the decreased demand for ethanol resulting from the effects of the pandemic on our business, and we had previously evaluated this plant for potential impairment assuming that operations would resume. However, we completed an evaluation of the plant during the third quarter of 2021 and concluded that it

was no longer a strategic asset for our ethanol business. As a result, the plant’s operations have permanently ceased.

The Riga plant was temporarily idled in 2019 due to corn quality issues with the local third-party corn feedstock supply. Although we expected operations to resume after an improved corn harvest, we completed an evaluation of this plant during the third quarter of 2020 and concluded that it was no longer a strategic asset for our ethanol business. The plant’s operations permanently ceased at that time.