$1.5 Million Released for Ethanol
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. -The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will go forward with its release of $1.5 million in funding toward an ethanol pilot plant at University Park on the campus of Southern Illinois University's Edwardsville campus, according to a recent announcement by the Illinois Congressional delegation.
In a joint statement, U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Carol Moseley-Braun and U.S. Reps. Jerry Costello and John Shimkus said they have been assured by Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman that the funds which were included in last year's USDA appropriations bill will be released. The grant will be used for design and engineering work on the ethanol research facility that is projected to cost a total of some $20 million to build. The main focus of the plant will be the exploration and study of more efficient and economical methods of producing ethanol from corn.
Termed an oxygenate, ethanol is added to fossil gues at a rate of nine parts gasoline-one part ethanol to cut down on carbon dioxide emissions. This can help cities meet clean air standards, especially in the winter.
SIUE previously received a $500,000 grant from the USDA to study the feasibility of constructing an ethanol research plant at University Park. Brian Donnelly, executive director of the park, said the consultants who conducted the study recommended 10 research projects that hold the greatest promise of making ethanol more economical to produce. He said Stanley Consultants Inc., who conducted the economic analysis reached a "dramatic conclusion."
"If just seven of these technologies are sped to commercialization through the pilot ethanol plant, the cost of converting corn to ethanol could be reduced up to 10 cents a gallon," Donnelly said. Nearly two billion gallons of ethanol are produced in the U.S. annually. The pilot plant would be a small investment indeed when compared to that kind of return."
SIUE Chancellor Nancy Belck and SIU President Ted Sanders joined the congressional group in the praising the USDA action. "As it discovers new efficiencies in ethanol production, this laboratory will be good news for agriculture, the state's economy, and U.S. energy independence," Chancellor Belck said.
" It's also good news for University Park and SIUE, advancing our role as a center for innovation and development of new technology." President Sanders said he appreciates the fact that the USDA recognizes the University as a research center. "It is truly significant that SIU will play a major role in the development of commercialization processes that will add thousands of jobs and billions of dollars to the U.S. economy while contributing to the fight against urban air pollution and lessening our dependence on imported oil."
