Friday, June 10

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Ethanol plant still looking for just the right spot          Send a link to a friend 

[JUNE 10, 2005]  An Illinois cooperative association, Illini Bio-Energy, has yet to choose a location for its coal-fired ethanol production plant. The plant features near-zero solid wastes, takes Illinois corn and makes ethanol.

IBE has been searching central Illinois for the best location for the plant for several years now. Factors include transportation access and an ample water supply for processing. The project needs railroad access and roads capable of supporting heavy trucks. The Logan County area offers a number of locations meeting these criteria.

The group has worked at getting all the right government approvals and financing in line during the search process. An equity drive opening shares to farmers, which began in January 2005, was one of the last steps on the timeline before construction could begin.

The search for the best site continues, project manager Sarah Wilcox said on Thursday. There are a lot of factors to consider in a successful plan, she said.

The group has considered a site in Elkhart that now has an enterprise zone set up for it. They recently examined a location north of Business 55 bypass along Nicholson Road.

Someone from a site that was being looked at a year ago was in the office just last week asking that IBE look at their site again, she said.

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They continue to assess all the potentials, the plusses and minuses and costs of properties. The company policy is to not say anything until there is paperwork signed on an option to purchase, Wilcox said. Other new sites, as well as past sites, are being considered. The company would like to stay in Logan County if possible.

The process of choosing a site requires extensive research. Along with transportation and water needs, the company looks at topography and takes drillings in the feasibility investigative work. Before they can do some of this work they have to take out options on the land or get permission of the owner. While Wilcox would not say just where they are looking, she did say that they plan to choose a property as soon as possible.

No site has been eliminated, but "some rise to the top," Wilcox said. With $96 million of other people's money we want to look at all the potentials, she said.

[Jan Youngquist]

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