Minnesota Energy, an 20 MMgy corn ethanol plant in Buffalo Lake, Minn., has laid off workers and suspended production of ethanol, confirmed Buffalo Lake’s Mayor Joyce Nyhus According to information at the company Web site, www.fromfieldtofuel.com, the plant began production in 1997. Minnesota Energy expanded in 2006, including grain handling and merchandising, agronomy sales and application, and home heat delivery in Buffalo Lake and five nearby towns. In 2009 MPCA fined the plant a civil penalty of $1.1 million for a variety of alleged air and water violations.