The Illini Bio-Energy Ethanol Plant

 

Positives for Lincoln/Logan County/Central Illinois:

 

• Employ 38-39 persons with annual salaries from $35,000 to 60,000.

 

• Create 70-100 new jobs throughout Lincoln/Logan County in the service industries supporting the operations of the plant.

 

• Add $1,500,000.00 in new annual income for corn producers in Logan County.

 

• Generate a minimum of $1,200,000.00 annually in new state & local taxes.

 

• Add $19,600,000.00 of annual household income to Central Illinois.

 

• Produce 50,000,000 gallons of ethanol per year reducing the U.S.’ need for foreign oil.

 

• Create a new market for 18,000,000 bushels of central Illinois corn annually.

 

• Produce an estimated 165,000 tons of DDGS, a high quality livestock feed, annually.

 

• Bring money to Lincoln/Logan County from other states through the sales of ethanol and DDGs.

 

Community Questions:

 

1.  What effect will the plant have on property values of the area?

 

• A survey of professional realtors in cities where ethanol plants are located shows that there has been no decline in area property values because of the plant.

 

2.  How will safety issues be handled?

 

• Stringent fire protection requirements are inherent in the design, layout and operations of the plant. 
• An extensive program for plant safety and health will be implemented and audited regularly.  IBE will work with city and county fire, safety and emergency personnel to insure safe operations.
• Illini Bio-Energy has met with local safety and emergency professionals to discuss safety issues related to the plant. Its plant and operations will be required to follow the same stringent guidelines that other local businesses and industries are required to follow in the community.

 

3.  Will shallow wells run dry for area residents? 

 

• Illini is working with the water professionals from Illinois American Water Company to determine the best supply of water for the plant.   The water may come from wells drilled on its property or purchased from the water company.  Together, we are working to provide a source of water to the plant that would not adversely affect the water supply in the area.
• The Northern Logan County Water Authority will have regulatory power over the quantity of water used should Illini decide to drill wells for its water use.

 

4.  Does the EPA safeguard these residential wells?

 

• The Illinois EPA does not have any role in the matter of water quantity, but does concern itself with the quality of the water in the wells.

 

5.  How much water will the plant purchase from Illinois American Water Company?

• The amount of water is yet to be determined.

 

6.  Will run-off water from the property or water discharged from the plant contribute to flooding of Brainard’s Branch?

 

• The plant’s design and layout will include retention ponds to accumulate and store run-off water from the plant site.
• Any water that will be discharged from the plant will be non-process water, either well water or city water (yet to be determined).  This water has been used to cool down the towers and is similar to the water that remains in a teakettle after it has simmered on a stove for a period of time – concentrated in minerals.  It will be discharged into a shallow lagoon, where much of it will evaporate.
• Run-off water and discharge water will be a controlled discharge via a 6” discharge line with a gate valve to allow for control of discharge rates.
• The Illinois EPA’s Bureau of Water has legislative authority and federal EPA approval to implement the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit program in Illinois.  The plant will need to obtain this permit from the Illinois EPA, after the Illinois EPA is satisfied that the discharge will not cause or contribute to water pollution.

 

7.  What is the plan for Nicholson Road?

 

• Any Logan County road used to access the plant will need to be an 80,000 pound, year round, all weather road.  Illini does not intend to ask for upgrades to Nicholson Road to the north of the plant’s entrances.
• The plant will bring additional truck traffic to the area.   The corn needed for the plant’s operations will be delivered to the plant by grain trucks or could be delivered by rail if necessary.

 

 8.  Will this plant be an eyesore for area residents?

 

• This plant will be working plant.  An ethanol plant resembles a modern grain elevator.  Its components are constructed of concrete, carbon steel and stainless steel.  Driveways serving the plant will either be paved or constructed of concrete.  Grain will be delivered to the plant and will be unloaded in an enclosed building. 
• There will be no exposed coal.  All coal will be received in a separate enclosed building and stored in coal silos. 
• Illini’s office building will be an attractive structure large enough to house the weigh scales, offices and meeting rooms.