Commitments and Contingencies (Details Textual) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012 Fairmont Plant [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Fairmont Plant [Member]	Dec. 31, 2008 Fairmont Plant [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Wood River Plant [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Wood River Plant [Member]	Dec. 31, 2008 Wood River Plant [Member]
Deferred Lease Payments	$ 1,600,000		$ 1,600,000
Subsidiaries Leasing Amount Per Year			6,700,000
Operating Lease Rent Expense Paid By Each Subsidiary Per Year					4,300,000
Operating Leases, Rent Expense	2,915,000	1,931,000	8,554,000	5,764,000
Origination Fee Per Bushel Under Lease Agreements			0.048
Minimum Annual Origination Fee Payable	1,200,000		1,200,000
Number Of Bushels Contracted To Purchase						344,000			5,488,000
Percentage Of Purchase Commitments Of Projected Requirements						1.00%			12.00%
Percentage Of Minimum Annual Commissions Payable In Average Selling Price			1.00%
Minimum Annual Operating Lease Payments							50,000	1,200,000		250,000	1,500,000
Number Of Gallons Of Ethanol						82,500,000			82,500,000
Deferred Ethanol Commissions	1,100,000		1,100,000
Intial Mininum Annual Lease Payments								$ 800,000			$ 1,000,000
Mileage Limit For Escalation Of Monthly Rental Charges	30,000		30,000