State of Illinois, Illinois Corn Growers, and National Corn-To-Ethanol Research Center Host Ethanol Plant Workshop

EDWARDSVILLE -  Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Director Doug Scott teamed up with Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Chuck Hartke and experts from the Illinois Department Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), National Corn-To-Ethanol Research Center, Illinois Corn Growers, Illinois Bio-Energy, and Lincoln Land Energy to host a "Building an Ethanol Plant in Illinois" workshop at the National Corn-To-Ethanol Research Center at the Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville campus.

 

The workshop was intended to help attendees navigate through the pollution control permit process and to learn how to develop an ethanol plant with best management practices, pollution prevention designs, and operating practices, including waste reduction and energy efficiency. This educational curve will help to make new ethanol plants environmentally-friendly as well as an even greater economic asset.

 

Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Charles Hartke provided attendees with the initial welcome to the workshop.  Illinois EPA Director Doug Scott introduced the afternoon session and joined attendees for a tour of the facility.

 

Throughout the day, industry experts addressed questions pertaining to the rapidly growing ethanol industry.  Experts spoke on the proper ways to site an ethanol plant, the necessary construction permits, methods for obtaining grants and funding opportunities available when building and financing a plant, and the use of different fuel sources.

 

"These workshops are further examples of how state government is enhancing the ethanol industry in Illinois, from both the production and consumer standpoints, as a result of the commitment of Gov. Blagojevich," said Illinois EPA Director Doug Scott.  "As a result of Gov. Blagojevich's leadership, the state offers grants for ethanol plants and E-85 retail pumps, provides the public with information about flex-fuel E-85 vehicles and the location of E-85 stations, and offers potential rebates for using E-85."

 

In August 2005, the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) was signed into law, and it is expected to double ethanol production and use by 2012.  The RFS requires that a percentage of all fuels sold be derived from renewable resources.  As many as 90 new ethanol plants may be built to meet this increased demand.  The RFS could result in hundreds of thousands of new jobs nationally while reducing oil consumption by 80,000 barrels of oil a day by 2012, according to the American Coalition for Ethanol.

 

"The demand for ethanol continues to grow, which means the demand for Illinois corn will continue to grow with it, adding value to Illinois products and providing long term environmental benefits," Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Chuck Hartke said.  "Today, one out of every six rows of corn is used to produce ethanol.  The need for more corn will also create jobs and continue to strengthen the agriculture industry."

 

"With consumer recognition of the multiple benefits of fuel ethanol at an all time high, ensuring supply will be available to meet consumer demand is critical to our energy independence.  By providing those interested in building new ethanol plants with knowledge and guidance in utilizing the unique assets of Illinois to build a successful fuel ethanol plant, we can assure sustainable renewable fuel growth, and improved environment and economic development for rural communities across the state," said Dr. Martha Schlicher, Director of the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center.

 

"Demand for ethanol is at record levels, and high fuel prices are expected to keep this consumer driven demand growing indefinitely.  Illinois is in a unique position to service this demand because of our corn production capacity, central location, and the transportation network to service the rest of the nation.  Educational meetings like this will assure wise expansion in the industry, so Illinois can remain an ethanol leader," said John Kuhfuss, ICGA president of Mackinaw.

 

At the beginning of the workshop, participants received a copy of the "Building an Ethanol Plant in Illinois Regulatory Guidance" guidebook, created as an informational outreach publication to those groups considering building a plant in Illinois.  The guide is also available for downloading from the Illinois EPA's web site at www.epa.state.il.us/agriculture/building-an-ethanol-plant.

 

The workshop and guidebook are further examples of Governor Rod R. Blagojevich's strong commitment to renewable fuels, and as a result, Illinois continues to be a national leader in the production, availability and research on E-85:

 

 

Governor Blagojevich signed the Fiscal 2007 state budget, which includes an additional $20 million for investments in alternative fuel and renewable fuel facilities and $5 million for additional renewal fuels research, of which $4 million is for this Center at SIU-E and $1 million is for Western Illinois University.

 

o       The state of Illinois has one of largest fleets of "Flex Fuel Vehicles" that can use E-85 in the nation, and the Governor signed an Executive Order in 2004 that is increasing the amount of E-85 used in state vehicles.

 

o       The state has switched its diesel pumps to 2 percent biodiesel, and in 2005 the Governor signed legislation that requires the State, county and local governments, school districts, universities and community colleges, and mass transit agencies to use 2 percent biodiesel.

 

The web site Illinoisgreenfleets.org informs citizens of where to find E-85 stations in Illinois and which vehicles can run on E-85.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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