Corn farmers push plan to install more ethanol pumps in Illinois

Posted on April 22, 2016
Gas pump
A proposal in the Illinois Senate would allow for federal money to be used for ethanol fuel pumps in Illinois. (Photo by Michael Cote’/flickr)

By Greg Halbleib

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois ethanol industry could be fueled by legislation that is on its way to the full state Senate.

The bill sponsored by State Sen. Jason Barickman, R-Bloomington, allows nearly $12 million to be funneled to gas stations to install pumps to sell E-15 and E-85 ethanol-blended fuel.

“I think this is an area where we are going to see bipartisan support on an effort that spends no state money but allows our economy to grow,” Barickman said. “For those of us like me who represent large agricultural districts, I think this is a homerun.”

David Loos of the Illinois Corn Growers Association said the money is largely from a federal grant program.

“Illinois received the third largest grant under the (U.S. Department of Agriculture) Biofuels Infrastructure Program,” Loos said. “We are looking forward to these 87 stations being completed sometime in the next year.”

The state’s ethanol industry is matching the nearly $12 million with an addition $1.7 million provided by the Illinois Corn Growers Association.

Greg Halbleib can be reached at [email protected].

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