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NCGA Director
of Production and Marketing Paul Bertels, left, and Dr. Brian Donnelly
of Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville pose with a rendering
of the SIU ethanol pilot plant, slated to be operational by January
2003. |
Ethanol
Talk Concludes Congressional Tour on SIU Ethanol Pilot Plant Wraps Up
SLABC Tour (8-23-01)
A three-day
tour of St. Louis area agriculture hosted by the St. Louis Agri-Business
Club for congressional representatives wrapped up Wednesday with a presentation
on ethanol and the national pilot plant to be built in Edwardsville.
Paul Bertels, National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) director of production
and stewardship, chaired the committee that organized and conducted
the tour, which included a tour of NCGA Corn Board member Greg Guenther's
Belleville, Ill., farm and a barge tour of the Mississippi.
Wednesday's
presentation included talks by industry representatives and concluded
with a presentation by Dr. Brian Donnelly, executive director of University
Park on the campus of Southern Illinois University (SIU), Edwardsville.
Donnelly discussed the ethanol pilot plant that is to be constructed
at SIU.
"Corn
growers are concerned about the future of ethanol," said Donnelly.
"This pilot plant will enable researchers and industries to test
ethanol-related projects so we can get good information out there."
Donnelly
said the plant is an example of bi-partisan teamwork, with U.S. Senator
Richard Durbin (D-IL) helping initiate the plant project started while
a U.S. Representative and then U.S Representative John Shimkus (R-IL)
picking up where Durbin left off.
"This
project was strongly supported and allowed at SIU due to the contributions
made to both agricultural economy and the environment," Donnelly
said.
The
plant will cost an estimated $18 million, with $6.5 million of that
provided by the state of Illinois. Funding for plant operation will
be unique in that researchers and industry will pay a fee per day to
study their projects.
The
plant, which is expected to produce approximately 500 gallons of ethanol
per day and 50,000 gallons per year, is expected to be fully operational
in January 2003. Construction is scheduled to begin in late November
of this year.
"This
kind of research doesn't just affect industry, it affects consumers
directly," said Donnelly. "With this plant and other ethanol
research projects in the works, we expect to actually lower gas prices
in the next few years."
Last
reviewed August 23, 2001
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