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"NCGA
Grower Services Action Team member and Illinois Corn Growers Association
President Ron Fitchhorn speaks at Monday's ground-breaking ceremony
for the ethanol pilot plant to be constructed at Southern Illinois
University-Edwardsville. From left to right: U.S. Sen. Richard
Durbin (D-IL), Illinois Gov. George Ryan and SIU-E President James
Walker."
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Illinois
Officials Acknowledge NCGA's Ethanol Promotion Efforts (8-28-01)
A monumental
event for the ethanol industry and the nation's corn growers took place
yesterday on the campus of Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
with the groundbreaking ceremony for an ethanol pilot plant. The plant
will be utilized for researchers to work on ethanol-based projects that
will, hopefully, provide new information on new uses of ethanol and
how it can be made at a less-expensive rate.
Many
of Illinois' top elected officials were on hand for the event, including
Illinois Gov. George Ryan, Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Congressman
John Shimkus (R-IL). Representing corn growers were Illinois Corn Growers
Association President and NCGA Grower Services Action Team member Ron
Fitchhorn of McLean, Ill.; NCGA Production and Stewardship Action Team
member and Glenarm, Ill., corn grower Garry Niemeyer; NCGA Ethanol Task
Force Chairman and York, Neb., corn grower Boyd Smith; and NCGA Vice
President of Operations Mike Rohan.
A common
theme throughout the day was the bi-partisan effort that took place
to ensure the future of the pilot plant. The pilot plant project began
10 years ago when then-Congressman Durbin approached SIU-E executives
with the idea. When Durbin was elected to the Senate, Shimkus picked
up the ball and ran with it.
Gov.
Ryan said he is proud of the effort made by, not only the politicians
involved, but both the Illinois Corn Growers and NCGA. "The corn
growers have been on the forefront of ethanol promotion for years,"
he said. "Without them and their information, this project may
not have happened."
Durbin
echoed those words, and thanked Gov. Ryan. "Illinois is about agriculture,
not politics," he said, "and this Democratic senator would
like to thank that Republican governor for his efforts to make this
pilot plant a reality."
Fitchhorn,
who was recognized for his work on ethanol promotion, said, "In
Illinois, when you say the word 'ethanol,' everyone works together,"
he said. "This was a great event and it's very nice to see the
folks in Washington backing us up with this project."
Fitchhorn
continued, saying the plant is going to be instrumental in making ethanol
production more efficient. "We're looking forward to the day where
we can get three gallons of ethanol from one bushel of corn and I think
this plant will bring that about."
Construction
on the plant is scheduled to begin in late November and is expected
to be fully operational by January 2003 at a cost of approximately $18
million. Six million dollars of that cost was provided by Gov. Ryan
and the state of Illinois.
For
more information on the ethanol pilot plant at SIU-E, visit the NCGA
website at http://www.ncga.com/news/notd/2001/august/082301a.htm.
Last
reviewed August 27, 2001
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