Stock-Based Compensation	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
Stock-Based Compensation [Abstract]
Stock-Based Compensation	13. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION On May 6, 2020, the shareholders of the company approved the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan which granted an additional 1.6 million shares of common stock for stock-based compensation. All shares remaining under the 2009 Equity Incentive Plan rolled into the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan effective May 6, 2020. The 2019 Equity Inventive Plan reserves 5.7 million shares of common stock for issuance to its directors and employees. The plan provides for shares, including options to purchase shares of common stock, stock appreciation rights tied to the value of common stock, restricted stock, performance share awards, and restricted and deferred stock unit awards, to be granted to eligible employees, non-employee directors and consultants. The company measures stock-based compensation at fair value on the grant date, with no adjustments for estimated forfeitures. The company records noncash compensation expense related to equity awards in its consolidated financial statements over the requisite period on a straight-line basis. Grants under the equity incentive plans may include stock options, stock awards, performance share awards or deferred stock units: Restricted Stock Awards – Restricted stock awards may be granted to directors and employees that vest immediately or over a period of time as determined by the compensation committee. Stock awards granted to date vested immediately and over a period of time, and included sale restrictions. Compensation expense is recognized on the grant date if fully vested or over the requisite vesting period. Deferred Stock Units – Deferred stock units may be granted to directors and employees that vest immediately or over a period of time as determined by the compensation committee. Deferred stock units granted to date vest over a period of time with underlying shares of common stock that are issuable after the vesting date. Compensation expense is recognized on the grant date if fully vested, or over the requisite vesting period. Performance Share Awards – Performance share awards may be granted to directors and employees that cliff-vest after a period of time as determined by the compensation committee. Performance share awards granted to date cliff-vest after a period of time, and included sale restrictions. Compensation expense is recognized over the requisite vesting period. Stock Options – Stock options may be granted that can be exercised immediately in installments or at a fixed future date. Certain options are exercisable regardless of employment status while others expire following termination. Options issued to date could have been exercised immediately or at future vesting dates, and expired five years to eight years after the grant date. Compensation expense for stock options that vest over time is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. Restricted Stock Awards and Deferred Stock Units The non-vested restricted stock award and deferred stock unit activity for the year ended December 31, 2021, are as follows: Non-Vested‎Shares and‎Deferred‎Stock Units Weighted-‎Average Grant-‎Date Fair Value Weighted-Average‎Remaining‎Vesting Term‎(in years)Non-Vested at December 31, 2020 1,028,739 $9.15 Granted 357,844 27.38 Forfeited (118,814) 15.07 Vested (474,432) 12.23 Non-Vested at December 31, 2021 793,337 $14.64 1.9 Performance Share Awards On February 18, 2021 and March 18, 2020, the board of directors granted performance shares to be awarded in the form of common stock to certain participants of the plan. These performance shares vest based on the level of achievement of certain performance goals, including the incremental value achieved from the company’s high-protein initiatives, annual production levels and return on investment (ROI). Performance shares granted in 2021 and 2020 do not contain market-based factors requiring a Monte Carlo valuation model. The performance shares were granted at a target of 100%, but each performance share will reduce or increase depending on results for the performance period. If the company achieves the maximum performance goals, the maximum amount of shares available to be issued pursuant to the 2021 and 2020 awards are 917,757 performance shares which represents approximately 273% of the 336,222 performance shares which remain outstanding. The actual number of performance shares that will ultimately vest is based on the actual performance targets achieved at the end of the performance period. On February 19, 2019 and March 19, 2018, the board of directors granted performance shares to be awarded in the form of common stock to certain participants of the plan. These performance shares vest based on the company’s average return on net assets (RONA) and the company’s total shareholder return (TSR), as further described herein. The performance shares vest on the third anniversary of the grant, if the RONA and TSR criteria are achieved and the participant is then employed by the company. Fifty percent of the performance shares vest based upon the company’s ability to achieve a predetermined RONA during the three year performance period. The remaining fifty percent of the performance shares vest based upon the company’s total TSR during the three year performance period relative to that of the company’s performance peer group. The performance shares were granted at a target of 100%, but each performance share will reduce or increase depending on results for the performance period for the company's RONA, and the company’s TSR relative to that of the performance peer group. On March 19, 2021, based on criteria discussed above, the 2018 performance shares vested at a target of 75%. If the company’s RONA and TSR achieve the maximum goals, the maximum amount of shares available to be issued pursuant to the 2019 awards are 224,900 performance shares or 150% of the 149,933 performance shares which remain outstanding. The actual number of performance shares that will ultimately vest is based on the actual percentile ranking of the company’s RONA, and the company’s TSR compared to the peer performance at the end of the performance period. For performance shares which include market based factors, the company uses the Monte Carlo valuation model to estimate the fair value of the performance shares on the date of the grant. The weighted average assumptions used by the company in applying the Monte Carlo valuation model for performance share grants and related valuation are illustrated in the following table: FY 2019 Performance Awards Risk-free interest rate 2.45%Dividend yield 3.13%Expected volatility 41.69%Monte Carlo valuation 99.62%Closing stock price on the date of grant$ 15.34 The non-vested performance share award activity for the year ended December 31, 2021, is as follows: Performance‎Shares Weighted-‎Average Grant-‎Date Fair Value Weighted-Average‎Remaining‎Vesting Term‎(in years)Non-Vested at December 31, 2020 517,969 $10.82 Granted 183,316 26.41 Forfeited (127,215) 16.65 Vested (87,915) 17.68 Non-Vested at December 31, 2021 486,155 $13.93 2.0 Stock Options The fair value of the stock options is estimated on the date of the grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, a pricing model acceptable under GAAP. The expected life of the options is the period of time the options are expected to be outstanding. The company did not grant any stock option awards during the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019. Green Plains Partners Green Plains Partners has a long-term incentive plan (LTIP) intended to promote the interests of the partnership, its general partner and affiliates by providing unit-based incentive compensation awards to employees, consultants and directors to encourage superior performance. The LTIP reserves 2,500,000 common limited partner units for issuance in the form of options, restricted units, phantom units, distribution equivalent rights, substitute awards, unit appreciation rights, unit awards, profit interest units or other unit-based awards. The partnership measures unit-based compensation related to equity awards in its consolidated financial statements over the requisite service period on a straight-line basis. ‎ The non-vested unit-based awards activity for the year ended December 31, 2021, are as follows: Non-Vested‎Shares and‎Deferred‎Stock Units Weighted-‎ Average ‎ Grant-Date ‎Fair Value Weighted-Average‎Remaining‎Vesting Term‎(in years)Non-Vested at December 31, 2020 47,620 $6.72 Granted 25,976 12.32 Forfeited (6,494) 12.32 Vested (47,620) 6.72 Non-Vested at December 31, 2021 19,482 $12.32 0.5 Stock-Based and Unit-Based Compensation Expense Compensation costs for stock-based and unit-based payment plans during the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, were approximately $6.1 million, $7.9 million and $9.7 million, respectively. At December 31, 2021, there were $9.2 million of unrecognized compensation costs from stock-based and unit-based compensation related to non-vested awards. This compensation is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately 1.9 years. The potential tax benefit related to stock-based payment is approximately 24.3% of these expenses.

Stock-Based Compensation

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

13. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION On May 6, 2020, the shareholders of the company approved the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan which granted an additional 1.6 million shares of common stock for stock-based compensation. All shares remaining under the 2009 Equity Incentive Plan rolled into the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan effective May 6, 2020. The 2019 Equity Inventive Plan reserves 5.7 million shares of common stock for issuance to its directors and employees. The plan provides for shares, including options to purchase shares of common stock, stock appreciation rights tied to the value of common stock, restricted stock, performance share awards, and restricted and deferred stock unit awards, to be granted to eligible employees, non-employee directors and consultants. The company measures stock-based compensation at fair value on the grant date, with no adjustments for estimated forfeitures. The company records noncash compensation expense related to equity awards in its consolidated financial statements over the requisite period on a straight-line basis. Grants under the equity incentive plans may include stock options, stock awards, performance share awards or deferred stock units: Restricted Stock Awards – Restricted stock awards may be granted to directors and employees that vest immediately or over a period of time as determined by the compensation committee. Stock awards granted to date vested immediately and over a period of time, and included sale restrictions. Compensation expense is recognized on the grant date if fully vested or over the requisite vesting period. Deferred Stock Units – Deferred stock units may be granted to directors and employees that vest immediately or over a period of time as determined by the compensation committee. Deferred stock units granted to date vest over a period of time with underlying shares of common stock that are issuable after the vesting date. Compensation expense is recognized on the grant date if fully vested, or over the requisite vesting period. Performance Share Awards – Performance share awards may be granted to directors and employees that cliff-vest after a period of time as determined by the compensation committee. Performance share awards granted to date cliff-vest after a period of time, and included sale restrictions. Compensation expense is recognized over the requisite vesting period. Stock Options – Stock options may be granted that can be exercised immediately in installments or at a fixed future date. Certain options are exercisable regardless of employment status while others expire following termination. Options issued to date could have been exercised immediately or at future vesting dates, and expired five years to eight years after the grant date. Compensation expense for stock options that vest over time is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. Restricted Stock Awards and Deferred Stock Units The non-vested restricted stock award and deferred stock unit activity for the year ended December 31, 2021, are as follows: Non-Vested‎Shares and‎Deferred‎Stock Units Weighted-‎Average Grant-‎Date Fair Value Weighted-Average‎Remaining‎Vesting Term‎(in years)Non-Vested at December 31, 2020 1,028,739 $9.15 Granted 357,844 27.38 Forfeited (118,814) 15.07 Vested (474,432) 12.23 Non-Vested at December 31, 2021 793,337 $14.64 1.9 Performance Share Awards On February 18, 2021 and March 18, 2020, the board of directors granted performance shares to be awarded in the form of common stock to certain participants of the plan. These performance shares vest based on the level of achievement of certain performance goals, including the incremental value achieved from the company’s high-protein initiatives, annual production levels and return on investment (ROI). Performance shares granted in 2021 and 2020 do not contain market-based factors requiring a Monte Carlo valuation model. The performance shares were granted at a target of 100%, but each performance share will reduce or increase depending on results for the performance period. If the company achieves the maximum performance goals, the maximum amount of shares available to be issued pursuant to the 2021 and 2020 awards are 917,757 performance shares which represents approximately 273% of the 336,222 performance shares which remain outstanding. The actual number of performance shares that will ultimately vest is based on the actual performance targets achieved at the end of the performance period. On February 19, 2019 and March 19, 2018, the board of directors granted performance shares to be awarded in the form of common stock to certain participants of the plan. These performance shares vest based on the company’s average return on net assets (RONA) and the company’s total shareholder return (TSR), as further described herein. The performance shares vest on the third anniversary of the grant, if the RONA and TSR criteria are achieved and the participant is then employed by the company. Fifty percent of the performance shares vest based upon the company’s ability to achieve a predetermined RONA during the three year performance period. The remaining fifty percent of the performance shares vest based upon the company’s total TSR during the three year performance period relative to that of the company’s performance peer group. The performance shares were granted at a target of 100%, but each performance share will reduce or increase depending on results for the performance period for the company's RONA, and the company’s TSR relative to that of the performance peer group. On March 19, 2021, based on criteria discussed above, the 2018 performance shares vested at a target of 75%. If the company’s RONA and TSR achieve the maximum goals, the maximum amount of shares available to be issued pursuant to the 2019 awards are 224,900 performance shares or 150% of the 149,933 performance shares which remain outstanding. The actual number of performance shares that will ultimately vest is based on the actual percentile ranking of the company’s RONA, and the company’s TSR compared to the peer performance at the end of the performance period. For performance shares which include market based factors, the company uses the Monte Carlo valuation model to estimate the fair value of the performance shares on the date of the grant. The weighted average assumptions used by the company in applying the Monte Carlo valuation model for performance share grants and related valuation are illustrated in the following table: FY 2019 Performance Awards Risk-free interest rate 2.45%Dividend yield 3.13%Expected volatility 41.69%Monte Carlo valuation 99.62%Closing stock price on the date of grant$ 15.34 The non-vested performance share award activity for the year ended December 31, 2021, is as follows: Performance‎Shares Weighted-‎Average Grant-‎Date Fair Value Weighted-Average‎Remaining‎Vesting Term‎(in years)Non-Vested at December 31, 2020 517,969 $10.82 Granted 183,316 26.41 Forfeited (127,215) 16.65 Vested (87,915) 17.68 Non-Vested at December 31, 2021 486,155 $13.93 2.0 Stock Options The fair value of the stock options is estimated on the date of the grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, a pricing model acceptable under GAAP. The expected life of the options is the period of time the options are expected to be outstanding. The company did not grant any stock option awards during the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019. Green Plains Partners Green Plains Partners has a long-term incentive plan (LTIP) intended to promote the interests of the partnership, its general partner and affiliates by providing unit-based incentive compensation awards to employees, consultants and directors to encourage superior performance. The LTIP reserves 2,500,000 common limited partner units for issuance in the form of options, restricted units, phantom units, distribution equivalent rights, substitute awards, unit appreciation rights, unit awards, profit interest units or other unit-based awards. The partnership measures unit-based compensation related to equity awards in its consolidated financial statements over the requisite service period on a straight-line basis. ‎ The non-vested unit-based awards activity for the year ended December 31, 2021, are as follows: Non-Vested‎Shares and‎Deferred‎Stock Units Weighted-‎ Average ‎ Grant-Date ‎Fair Value Weighted-Average‎Remaining‎Vesting Term‎(in years)Non-Vested at December 31, 2020 47,620 $6.72 Granted 25,976 12.32 Forfeited (6,494) 12.32 Vested (47,620) 6.72 Non-Vested at December 31, 2021 19,482 $12.32 0.5 Stock-Based and Unit-Based Compensation Expense Compensation costs for stock-based and unit-based payment plans during the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, were approximately $6.1 million, $7.9 million and $9.7 million, respectively. At December 31, 2021, there were $9.2 million of unrecognized compensation costs from stock-based and unit-based compensation related to non-vested awards. This compensation is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately 1.9 years. The potential tax benefit related to stock-based payment is approximately 24.3% of these expenses.