$40 million, 60 Mgy Biofuels Manufacturers of Illinois biodiesel project receives $500,000 federal grant

In Illinois, Biofuels Manufacturers of Illinois received a $500,000 federal grant towards the $40 million price tag for the planned 60 Mgy pennycress biodiesel plant in Mapleton. Pennycress – also known as stinkweed – has been in increasing demand of late as a biofuels feedstock because it has twice the yield per acre as soybeans, based on a 36 percent oil content.

US Rep Aaron Schock (R-Peoria) was on hand to announce the project grant to the Peoria County project. It was Schock who, in a House subcommittee hearing earlier this year, first asked the EPA’s Margo Oge, supervising farm emissions through biofuels and indirect land use change analysis, if she had ever been on an American farm. She hadn’t – but did visit one after Iowa Senator Charles Grassley invited Ms. Oge to his farm.

Company officials said that they are seeking loan guarantees from the state, but are prepared to move forward on construction as soon as spring 2010.

More on Biofuels Manufacturers of Illinois and state grant funds

In August, the US Department of Energy announced more than $119 million in stimulus grants to five states, and two territories. Illinois received $40.5 million and will denote a portion to grants to new biofuels production facilities or retrofits to existing facilities. The goal? reducing operating costs and increasing energy efficiency.

BMI readies to break ground on pennycress biodiesel operation in Illinois, pending loan guarantees

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