|
"Energy independence means not being held hostage by OPEC every time
you fill up the tank with gas," Blagojevich said. "These new ethanol
and biodiesel plants mean more homegrown fuel that can replace
foreign oil and give drivers more options and cheaper alternatives."
The grants will help build the following five facilities:
-
Central Illinois
Energy LLC in Fulton County has received $6.35 million to build
an approximately $100 million ethanol production facility near
Canton. The facility will create about 45 new jobs.
-
Illinois River
Energy LLC in Ogle County has received a $5.5 million grant to
build its new 50-million-gallon-per-year, $80 million ethanol
production facility on an 81-acre site near Rochelle. The
facility will create about 45 new jobs.
-
Center Ethanol Co.
LLC in St. Clair County is receiving nearly $5.7 million in
grants and tax credits to build a new $100 million ethanol
production facility near Sauget. The facility will create about
35 new permanent jobs, as well as 250,000 worker-hours of
construction jobs.
-
Biofuels Company
of America LLC in Vermilion County is receiving approximately
$4.8 million in grants to construct a new $30 million biodiesel
production facility near Danville. The facility will create and
retain about 115 jobs.
-
Stepan Company in
Will County is a receiving a $3 million grant for a nearly $24
million expansion of its existing biodiesel production facility
near Elwood. The expansion will create up to eight new jobs.
Fulton County project
The governor is providing $6.35 million in grants to the Central
Illinois Energy LLC in Fulton County for a $100 million ethanol
production facility with an integrated coal-fired combined heat and
power plant. The new biorefinery, to be built near Canton, will
create about 45 new jobs. The governor’s support for this innovative
project includes a $4.5 million grant through the Renewable Fuels
Development Program from the Illinois Department of Commerce and
Economic Opportunity, a $750,000 grant from DCEO’s Illinois Coal
Competitiveness Program and $1.1 million in infrastructure
assistance from the Illinois Department of Transportation’s Rail
Freight Program.
Central Illinois Energy will build the 37-million-gallon-per-year
ethanol production facility and an associated coal-fired, combined
heat and power plant, known as a CHP. The plant will use about 13.1
million bushels of corn annually and produce about 111,000 tons of
livestock feed (distillers dried grains) each year. Because the
facility uses CHP technology, the plant will be very clean and
energy-efficient. (Company contact: Mike Smith at 309-668-3299)
"I want to commend Governor Blagojevich for his commitment to
this plant and for sticking with us as we worked towards making our
financing a reality," said Mike Smith, general manager for Central
Illinois Energy. "This project is a textbook example of what can be
accomplished when government, labor and agriculture combine their
efforts and work towards a common goal. CIE will add more than $50
million each year to [the] entire downstate economy."
"This is a tremendous day for all of Illinois because so many
people have come together to make us more energy-independent," said
state Sen. George Shadid, D-Pekin. "Governor Blagojevich and I are
proud to invest in this innovative project that is going to help our
unions, our farmers and our coal miners while lessening our
dependence on foreign oil. This is a common-sense energy strategy
that everyone needs to pay attention to."
"Governor Blagojevich and I understand that there are innovative
ways to decrease our dependence on foreign oil, while providing an
important boost to our economy," said state Rep. Mike Smith,
D-Canton. "These Opportunity Returns grants to Central Illinois
Energy strongly demonstrate our commitment to ethanol as an
important part of our energy future."
"On behalf of the West Central Illinois Building Trades, I’d like
to thank the Central Illinois Energy team and Governor Blagojevich
for their perseverance and tenacity in bringing this much-needed,
job-creating project to central Illinois," said Mike Everett,
president of the West Central Illinois Building and Construction
Trades Council. "Governor Blagojevich’s vision, to replace high
imported energy costs with high-wage jobs in renewable fuels and
clean coal, is the right vision for Illinois and America."
In a strong partnership with the project, several local labor
associations are not only involved with the construction of the
project but are also investors. Labor organizations including the
Mid-Central Illinois Regional Council of Carpenters and Joiners of
America, United Association Pipe Trades Council 34, Laborers
International Union Local 231, International Union of Operating
Engineers Local 649, and International Brotherhood of Electrical
Workers Local 34 invested a combined total of $410,000.
Ogle County project
Blagojevich also announced that Illinois River Energy LLC in Ogle
County has received a $5.5 million Opportunity Returns grant to
build its new 50-million-gallon-per-year ethanol production facility
on an 81-acre site near Rochelle. This project will boost demand for
Illinois corn by almost 18 million bushels a year, produce about
160,000 tons of livestock feed (distillers dried grains) each year
and create about 45 new jobs. The total cost of the facility is
approximately $80 million. (Company contact: Floyd Schultz or Vince
McCabe at 815-561-0650)
"We want to thank Governor Blagojevich for all of his support in
making this important project come to life," said Floyd Schultz,
president of Illinois River Energy. "This project will increase
ethanol production and energy independence right here in Illinois.
We have a great opportunity to look within for more and more of our
energy needs and to boost our economy and protect our environment."
St. Clair County project
Center Ethanol Co. LLC in St. Clair County is receiving nearly
$5.7 million in Opportunity Returns support to build a new $100
million ethanol production facility. The new biorefinery, which will
be built near Sauget, will create about 35 new permanent jobs, as
well as 250,000 worker-hours of construction jobs. The state’s
support is coming from a variety of business development programs
through the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity,
including a Renewable Fuels Development Program grant; Economic
Development for a Growing Economy tax credits, based on job creation
projections over a 10-year period; Employer Training Investment
Program job training funds to help enhance the skills of its work
force; and additional financial benefits, such as sales tax
exemptions and tax credits for job creation, resulting from the
company being located within an enterprise zone.
The facility will produce 54 million gallons of ethanol per year,
use more than 19 million bushels of corn annually and produce about
160,000 tons of livestock feed (distillers dried grains) each year.
(Company contact: Barry Frazier at 314-682-3515)
"Our site in Illinois has great infrastructure and provides
access to everything we need," said Barry Frazier, president of
Center Ethanol Co. "We greatly appreciate the support of Governor
Blagojevich for making this project happen."
[to top of second column] |
 Some of the major equity partners are Center Oil Company,
Yorktown Investments and Shipman Elevator Company, for a total
equity commitment of $35 million.
"Governor Blagojevich and I understand that there are innovative
ways, right here in Illinois, to decrease our dependence on foreign
oil, while providing an important boost to our economy," said state
Sen. James Clayborne, D-East St. Louis. "This support for Center
Ethanol strongly demonstrates our commitment, today and tomorrow, to
ethanol as a viable energy alternative."
"Governor Blagojevich and I know that we must continue making
these kinds of crucial investments that will increase the production
of ethanol, which helps our farmers and protects our environment,"
said state Rep. Dan Reitz, D-Steeleville. "This new facility will
not only create 35 new jobs, but it will continue our commitment of
making ethanol a key component of our energy portfolio."
"This is an important investment that will pay important economic
and environmental dividends for years to come," said state Rep.
Wyvetter Younge, D-East St. Louis. "I want to thank Governor
Blagojevich for his commitment to increasing the availability of
renewable fuels in Illinois."
Vermilion County project
Blagojevich also announced that Biofuels Company of America LLC
in Vermilion County is receiving about $4.8 million in Opportunity
Returns grants to construct a new $30 million biodiesel production
facility near Danville. The project will create about 15 new jobs.
Additionally, operation of this facility will help save up to 100
existing jobs at an adjacent soybean crushing plant. The project is
commonly known in the area by the name of one of its major
investors, Bunge North America.
This new plant, developed by Biofuels Company of America as a
partnership between Bunge North America and Biodiesel Investment
Group LLC, will be a 45-million-gallon-per-year biodiesel production
facility. In addition to the biodiesel fuel produced, the plant will
use about 30 million bushels of soybeans annually and produce more
than 15 tons of glycerin each year. (Company contact: Deborah Seidel
at 314-292-2934)
"With the leadership of Governor Blagojevich and the support from
DCEO and IDOT, the state of Illinois has put in place the right mix
of incentives to attract state-of-the-art biofuels investments like
the proposed facility in Danville into the state," said Mark Burke,
president and chief executive officer of Biofuels Company of
America.
"Governor Blagojevich and I understand that by supporting
renewable fuels today, we are creating a more secure future," said
state Rep. Bill Black, R-Danville. "The only way we are going to
increase our energy independence is by creating a business climate
that encourages investment and innovation. This public-private
partnership is a great example of bringing new jobs to our community
in way that helps us all."
Will County project
The governor announced that the Stepan Company in Will County is
receiving a $3 million Opportunity Returns grant for a nearly $24
million expansion of its existing biodiesel production facility near
Elwood. Current production at the facility is about 10 million
gallons per year, and the expansion will more than quadruple
production, to 49 million gallons per year. The project will create
six to eight new jobs. In addition to the biodiesel fuel produced,
the plant will use about 35 million bushels of soybeans annually.
(Company contact: Jeff Nelson at 847-501-2299)
"The proposed plant will provide capacity to supply a part of the
new demand in Illinois and help our country and state reduce its
dependence on foreign energy," said F. Quinn Stepan, chairman of the
board of Stepan Company. "We appreciate the vision and support of
Governor Blagojevich. He is getting the job done on renewable
fuels."
"We have a tremendous opportunity to become less dependent on
foreign oil by promoting more efficient renewable fuels made in
Illinois," said state Sen. Arthur "AJ" Wilhelmi, D-Crest Hill. "The
investment Governor Blagojevich is making today in Stepan will help
us reach that goal while creating more good jobs, supporting our
farmers and protecting our environment."
"I strongly believe that the key to lessening our dependence on
foreign oil is to start producing renewable fuels right here in Will
County," said state Rep. Careen Gordon, D-Coal City. "I am very
proud to support the Stepan Company as it continues to help make
Illinois the national leader in the biodiesel market. This is a wise
investment in our economy that will protect our environment and
position us for a more secure future."
"By investing in innovative, environmentally friendly companies
that are investing in Illinois, Governor Blagojevich is creating a
business climate that is putting more people to work," said state
Rep. Jack McGuire, D-Joliet. "We must reduce our addiction to
foreign oil, and this is an important step in the right direction."
"Governor Blagojevich is committed to leading the way for
biodiesel by creating the largest biodiesel market in the nation
here in Illinois," said Will County Executive Larry Walsh. "Through
the complete state sales tax exemption for B-11, and through his
support of production facilities like this one, he is certainly
succeeding."
In June of 2003, Blagojevich signed into law a complete state
sales tax exemption for biodiesel blends of 11 percent or higher, as
well as for the high-ethanol blend known as E-85. When diesel fuel
costs $3 per gallon, the value of the exemption, at 6.25 percent, is
18.75 cents per gallon. Consumers have saved more than $200 million
as a result of these exemptions on B-11 and E-85 since 2003. This
valuable tax exemption has also multiplied the size of the biodiesel
market since 2003 -- making it 30 times larger than it was before.
This demand is now creating the demand for new ethanol and biodiesel
plants.
"Illinois is one of the leaders in annual corn and soybean
production, and, with Governor Blagojevich’s vision, we are now
leading the nation with new programs to support biofuels such as
ethanol and biodiesel," said Jack Lavin, director of the Department
of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. "We need to aggressively
support this growing industry to continue expanding our economy in a
way that is forward-thinking and environmentally responsible. We are
opening the door to a new era of energy independence here in
Illinois, while creating good new jobs across the state."
About Opportunity Returns
Blagojevich's Opportunity Returns regional economic development
strategy is the most aggressive, comprehensive approach to creating
jobs in Illinois' history. Since a one-size-fits-all approach to
economic development just doesn't work, the governor has divided the
state into 10 regions, each with a regional team that is empowered
and expected to rapidly respond to opportunities and challenges.
Opportunity Returns is about tangible, specific actions to make each
region more accessible, more marketable, more entrepreneurial and
more attractive to businesses. It is about upgrading the skills of
the local work force, increasing the access to capital, opening new
markets, improving infrastructure, and creating and retaining jobs.
Opportunity Returns is about successfully partnering with companies
and communities, both large and small, to help all of Illinois reach
its economic potential.
[News release from the governor's
office] |
