By TIM ALEXANDER
Illinois Correspondent

PEORIA, Ill. — BioFuels Manufacturers of Illinois (BMI) announced last week that the fledgling company, which will construct a 60 million gallon-per-year biodiesel plant in Peoria County using pennycress as a feedstock, has received a $500,000 federal appropriation to further its work in developing the commodity into a new energy crop.

U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock (R-Ill.) called a news conference at an East Peoria biodiesel filling station to publicly announce the appropriation last week, noting the benefits of pennycress as an energy crop feedstock for biodiesel production and predicting significant economic, environmental and social benefits.

“The assistance of Congressman Schock was key to BMI receiving these funds,” said Peter Johnsen, chief scientific officer for BMI, in a prepared statement. “Pennycress could bring as much as $100 million in new economic opportunities for our region as we move forward.”

BMI president and CEO Sudhir Seth also lauded Schock for his efforts in securing the funding.

“BMI will use these funds to develop pennycress biodiesel, a reality to supply our nation with renewable fuel from Illinois agriculture,” stated Seth. BMI will employ 150 workers during construction and 30 when fully operational. But the prime stimulator for central Illinois’ economy will spring from the contracts the plant’s ownership will enter into with local farmers to grow crops for the multi-feedstock facility, including pennycress.

In June, Seth told media and local farmers attending the first-ever commercial harvest of pennycress in Peoria County that farmers could fetch as much $125-$175 per acre for harvested pennycress, making it the most valuable crop per acre in the United States.
“I can say very confidently that pennycress has the potential of no other known sustainable alternative energy crop,” Seth said. “Central Illinois can be the beacon light and the leader in the development of alternative fuels.”

Pennycress is a winter crop that is harvested in the spring and can be double-cropped with late soybeans, helping attract the interest of area farmers. The Ag Guild of Illinois, a 50-farmer coalition of growers, is working with BMI to secure contracts for growing pennycress.

BMI has signed an exclusive agreement with GROWMARK, Inc. to market and distribute its biodiesel products, including pennycress.