SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Twenty-three senators, both Republicans and Democrats, have signed on as sponsors of legislation that would boost ethanol production in Illinois.

Sen. John Sullivan, chairman of the Senate’s Agriculture and Conservation Committee, said SB2236 would fund construction and retrofitting of ethanol plants as well as research at state universities.

“Thus far the support has been bipartisan in both the House and the Senate,” said Sullivan, a Rushville Democrat.

Sen. Deanna Demuzio, D-Carlinville, filed the legislation Jan. 11 and Sullivan became the first chief co-sponsor. By the next day, the legislation had 23 sponsors.

“This legislation will further our efforts to become independent from foreign oil. It will provide construction jobs and boost Illinois’ economy by increasing the use of crops for renewable fuels. It will also increase consumer awareness that they do have a choice at the pump,” Demuzio said.

The legislation sets aside up to $25 million to create a fund for construction of new ethanol plants and upgrades for existing plants. It also sets aside $3 million for research. Although most of that money will go to the University of Illinois-Edwardsville, part will go to Western Illinois University in Macomb, which can work with cooperatives that want to enter the ethanol market.

“Throughout our state and our nation, consumers are concerned with high gasoline prices,” Sullivan said. “Iowa and Illinois currently lead renewable fuels production in the nation.”

As gas prices have fluctuated, renewable fuel use has grown. At the end of 2005, 30 vehicle models on U.S. highways were “flexible fuel vehicles.” Those 4.5 million total vehicles have the ability to operate on blends of up to 85 percent ethanol.

“This legislation is good for consumers, good for farmers, good for national security and good for the environment,” said John Jones, R-Chicago.

The legislation also would help investors build 10 more plants in the first two years. The $25 million commitment will trigger $150 million in private investment, sponsors say.

In 2004, the ethanol industry created 147,000 jobs in the United States and brought an additional $1.3 billion in tax revenue to the federal government and $1.2 billion to state and local governments. Illinois has six ethanol plants with the capacity to produce nearly 900 million gallons of ethanol — or about one-fifth of all ethanol produced in the U.S., according to the Renewable Fuels Association.

The Illinois Corn Growers Association and the Illinois Farm Bureau have voiced support for the legislation. Sullivan said the only opposition he’s heard so far comes from those in or associated with the petroleum industry.

Contact Senior Writer Doug Wilson at dwilson@whig.com or (217) 221-3372

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