SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Like the corn waiting for harvest in the Illinois countryside, the state’s number of proposed ethanol and biodiesel plants is shooting up, too.

On Aug. 15, Gov. Rod Blagojevich announced more than $25 million in new Opportunity Returns grants and additional support to help build five new ethanol and biodiesel plants across the state.

The five plants are projected to spur around $334 million in private investment, produce 225 million gallons of biofuels yearly, and create almost 150 new jobs, according to the governor’s office. Blagojevich said the emergence of the five new plants, to be constructed in Fulton, Ogle, St. Clair, Vermilion and Lee counties, would help lessen Illinois’ reliance on foreign oil.

“Energy independence means not being held hostage by OPEC every time you fill up the tank with gas,” he said. “These new ethanol and biodiesel plants mean more homegrown fuel that can replace foreign oil and give drivers more options and cheaper opportunities.”

State Rep. Bill Black (R-Danville) said he shares the governor’s desire to reduce the state’s dependence on foreign oil.

“Gov. Blagojevich and I understand that by supporting renewable fuels today, we are creating a more secure future,” said Black. “The only way we are going to increase our energy independence is by creating a business climate that encourages investment and innovation.”

The grants went to the following companies to help build these facilities:

•Central Ill. Energy LLC in Fulton County received $6.35 million to create a $100 million ethanol plant near Canton.

•Illinois River Energy LLC in Ogle County received $5.5 million for an $80 million facility near Rochelle.

•Center Ethanol Co., LLC in St. Clair County received $5.7 million in grants and tax credits to build a new $100 million plant near Sauget.

•Biofuels Co. of America, LLC in Vermilion County received $4.8 million for a $30 million biodeisel production facility near Danville.

•Stepan Co. in Will County received a $3 million grant for a $24 million expansion of its existing biodiesel facility near Elwood.

In June, 2003, the governor signed a law granting a complete sales tax exemption for biodiesel blends of 11 percent and higher, as well as for E85. According to information provided by the governor’s office, consumers have saved more than $200 million as a result of the exemptions - multiplying the size of the biodiesel market alone by more than 30 times and spurring the boom of renewable fuel facilities in Illinois.

“Illinois is one of the leaders in annual corn and soybean production, and with Gov. Blagojevich’s vision, we are now leading the nation with new programs to support biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel,” said Illinois DCEO Director Jack Lavin. “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 in Illinois, while creating good jobs across the state.”

In addition to the five plants receiving grant money, a proposed 60-million gallon per year ethanol plant to be built in Streator’s industrial park later this year brings to 30 the number of planned alternative fuel production facilities in the state, according to Mark Lambert, communications director for the Illinois Corn Growers Assoc. Lambert told news sources the high number of proposed facilities is largely due to federal and state tax incentives offered to production companies and consumers.

This farm news was published in the August 23, 2006 issue of Farm World, serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee.