General Assembly approval boosts biodiesel production
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Bill benefits Illinois agriculture and
environment, expands biodiesel fuels eligible for state rebates and grants
[MAY 6, 2005]
SPRINGFIELD
-- Gov. Rod R Blagojevich praised the Illinois General Assembly
Friday for approving legislation to help boost the use and sale of biodiesel
fuel, much of which is made from Illinois soybeans. Thursday night the
Illinois House unanimously approved
Senate Bill 769, which unanimously passed in the Illinois Senate in
early April.
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The bill, sponsored by Sen.
Deanna Demuzio, D-Carlinville, and Rep. Roger Eddy, R-Hutsonville,
changes the Alternate Fuels Act to make biodiesel fuel blends of 20
percent or higher eligible for the Illinois Environmental Protection
Agency's Alternate Fuels Rebate program and the Department of
Commerce and Economic Opportunity's Alternate Fuels Infrastructure
Grant program. "I want to
thank the General Assembly for expanding our efforts to increase the
use of biodiesel, which is good for our air and good for our
agriculture industry and for energy independence," Gov. Blagojevich
said. "I look forward to signing this important legislation."
Early in his administration, the
governor signed legislation to eliminate the state sales tax on E-85
fuel, which made it noticeably less expensive than regular unleaded
gasoline. He also signed an executive order requiring increased use
of both ethanol and biodiesel by state employees.
Previously, only blends of 80
percent or higher biodiesel were eligible for IEPA rebates, to
reflect the additional costs of more environmentally friendly fuels
or the expense of converting traditional diesel engines to use
biodiesel, and for Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
grants to help build additional fueling facilities. The rebates and
grants are financed by an existing $20 user fee per vehicle on
fleets of 10 or more vehicles within the Chicago metro area, raising
about $1.5 million per year.
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![](../images/ads/current/american%20legion%20-%20small%20ad%20remake%203-28-05.gif) "This is another important incentive
to increase the use of biodiesel fuels," said Illinois EPA Director
Renee Cipriano, who also noted that the governor's Clean School Bus
program has provided grants to many districts around the state for
switching diesel school buses to biodiesel fuel. In addition,
Cipriano represented the governor on Earth Day, April 22, to welcome
the first corporate Adopt-A-Bus sponsor of the program.
Cook-Illinois Co. will use a 20 percent biodiesel blend in its more
than 1,400 school buses in the Chicago metro area.
The legislation had a broad
cross-section of support, ranging from the Illinois Soybean
Association to local governments and transit agencies, universities,
corporations, and environmental organizations.
[News release from the governor's office]
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