Illinois Governor Blagojevich invests in biofuel production to lower state dependence on foreign oil and to spur economic growth through new plant construction, operations, and maintenance. A number of companies will benefit from this investment in biofuels: Central Illinois Energy, Illinois River Energy, Center Ethanol Co., Biofuels Company of America, and Stepan Company. The governor has demonstrated his committment to a sustainable future through his support for biodiesel tax exemptions. Illinois has established itself as a pacesetter in biofuel investments. ...
... "Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich announced more than $25 million in new Opportunity Returns grants and additional support to help build five new ethanol and biodiesel production facilities across Illinois. The new plants will spur about $334 million in private investment, produce 225 million gallons of biofuels each year, create almost 150 new jobs and reduce Illinois' dependence on foreign oil. 
Central Illinois Energy (CIE) will build this 37 million gallon per year ethanol production facility and an associated coal-fired, combined heat and power plant (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.
Gov. Blagojevich also announced today 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.
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 DCEO's business development programs, including a Renewable Fuels Development Program grant, Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) tax credits (based on job creation projections over a ten-year period), Employer Training Investment Program (ETIP) job training funds to help enhance the skills of its workforce, 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 a 54 million gallons of ethanol per year ethanol, use more than 19 million bushels of corn annually and produce about 160,000 tons of livestock feed (distillers dried grains) each year.
Gov. Blagojevich also announced today that Biofuels Company of America, LLC in Vermilion County is receiving about $4.8 million Opportunity Returns grants to construct a new $30 million biodiesel production facility in Danville. This project will create about 15 new jobs. Additionally, operation of this facility will help secure up to 100 existing jobs at an adjacent soybean crushing plant. This 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, LLC, 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 soybean oil the plant will use as feedstock is equivalent to about 30 million bushels of beans annually. 
The Governor announced that the Stepan Company in Will County is a 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 this expansion will more than quadruple production to 49 million gallons per year. This 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.
Gov. 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 multiplied the size of the biodiesel market by 30 times since 2003 - making the biodiesel market 30 times larger than it was before. This demand is now creating the demand for new ethanol and biodiesel plants. " ...
Via State of Illinois: GOV. BLAGOJEVICH ANNOUNCES A NEW $25 MILLION INVESTMENT TO HELP BUILD FIVE STATE-OF-THE-ART ETHANOL AND BIODIESEL PLANTS ACROSS ILLINOIS: Grants Will Spur About $334 Million in Private Investment, Produce 225 Million Gallons of Biofuels Each Year, Create About 150 New Jobs and Lessen Illinois' Dependence on Foreign Oil ...
Central Illinois Energy is a cooperative ethanol production facility located in the Buckheart township of Fulton County, Illinois. It processes approximately 13-million bushels of its members' corn annually, producing 37-million gallons of ethanol, 125,000 tons of distiller grains and other useful byproducts.
Illinois River Energy, LLC is building a dry mill, corn-based processing facility that will produce ethanol, three forms of distillers grains, and carbon dioxide (CO2). The ethanol plant is located in Rochelle, Illinois and will process in excess of 18 million bushels of corn per year. Upon completion, the ethanol plant will produce 50 million gallons per year of denatured fuel grade ethanol, 160,000 tons of dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) and 120,000 tons of CO2. Illinois River Energy, LLC was founded in 2002 by a group of farmers to develop a fuel grade ethanol facility utilizing Illinois corn in the production of ethanol. Sixteen sites were evaluated by IRE with Rochelle chosen as the site due to its' economic advantages and excellent infrastructure. The IRE facility will have a positive economic effect on the entire community due to the increased value of corn, real estate taxes, and 32 new jobs created with an annual payroll of approximately $1.5 million.
Stepan Company is a global manufacturer of specialty and intermediate chemicals used in consumer products and industrial application. Stepan is a leading merchant producer of surfactants, which are the key ingredients in consumer and industrial cleaning compounds. Manufacturers of detergents, shampoos, lotions, toothpastes and cosmetics depend on surfactants to achieve the foaming and cleaning qualities of their products.
Governor Rod R. Blagojevich was sworn in as the 40th Governor of Illinois on January 13, 2003. As Illinois' chief executive officer, Gov. Blagojevich is working aggressively to create jobs, build stronger communities, provide Illinois families the tools they need to improve their lives, and restore the people's confidence in state government.
Wondering if you can make a flex fuel or EV work for you? Check out this US DOE app that tells you what alternative fuel sources are close to a given ZIP Code.
VeraSun Erergy Corporation (NYSE: VSE) has a process to get more energy from each bushel of corn. They can make both ethanol and biodiesel from corn. VeraSun is "the nations second largest ethanol producer". 
The Brazilian Obvio is coming! This tiny car is smaller than a Cooper Mini and is to get "40 mpg on the highway and 29 mpg in the city, which is better than the Mini". It is expected to retail for approximately $14,000 or half t he price of the Toyota Prius.
