After years of feeding corn to their livestock, many farmers in many localities are growing their gas instead.

Last Saturday, on the anniversary of the horrific Twin Towers event in New York City, our local community held their grand opening of the new ethanol plant in Palestine, Illinois. It seemed apparent to the entire crowd, as well as the local dignitaries speaking at the event, that it is very appropriate to announce the newest ethanol plant in our country on this memorable date. Although it is far from being the first such facility to open in the United States, it is another cog in the slow-moving gears that grind in an attempt to relieve our dependence on foreign oil that finances several of the groups that war against this nation. The cowardly efforts of terrorists to kill innocent victims doing their normal activities to earn a living, should not be rewarded with more money from imports of oil to fuel our transportation needs.

The forward-thinking leaders of our local community have ignited a small spark in the vast combustion of energy necessary to gradually achieve independence from those who would kill our citizens out of revenge for our way of life. Hopefully, as we gain independence from other countries for our fuel needs, we may be closer to bringing our brave neighbors and local sons and daughter's home from fighting those countries that would prevail against us.

Lincolnland Agri-Energy, LLC

It was great to tour a plant and see our friends and neighbors busy conducting the tour. So many farmers, political leaders, and skilled laborers in our community contributed so much to make this dream a reality. Many of the present board members of this limited liability company dreamed the dream only a few years ago in an attempt to find a way to add value to the main crop grown in our community. Many farmers looked for some way to help relieve the low corn price syndrome that had gripped their farms in a battle of continuing higher expenses and lower prices for their products.

After much study for a possible way to stimulate the local farm economy, the idea of completing an ethanol plant was formulated, and plans for completion of the plant began to take shape. Various groups in the community, including federal, state, and local government officials, debated the economics of such a venture. The structure of such a venture was discussed at length, and finally the idea of a cooperative venture in the form of a limited partnership was chosen, based on the economic model of plants in other areas of the United States.

A drive to raise capital began. Local individuals, ranging from farmers that would supply the corn that was the feedstock for the plant to including bankers, retired schoolteachers, and many other individuals interested in boosting the local economy joined to provide capital.

Of course, this diversity of investors also wished to provide a good investment for its money as well as stimulate the local farm and area economy. At the formative stages of the plant, the future was not as clear for a local grass-roots investment of from $50-60 million.

As the commitments were made for finance, friendly tax incentives were started, and the increasing cost of gasoline began to make the idea of such a plant much more enticing. We must remember, these forward-thinking individuals had no idea of the changes that would take place when terrorists would later attack the World Trade Center and affect the economics of fuel for transportation.

www.lincolnlandagriengergy.com

The Web site address given to those who toured the plant was lincolnlandagrienergy.com. At the time of this writing, the Web site is not available, but may possibly be accessed for more information at a later date.

I had hoped to provide accurate numbers quoted during the tour. seven stops where the process of alcohol production was explained. The main points I recall were factors of ten. Bins on the property can store approximately ten days of corn feedstocks, and a million-gallon tank farm can hold ten days of ethanol production. Approximately ten days of dried distillers grain product can be stored in a large flat warehouse for later shipment by rail.

Most corn comes into the plant by truck. There are two 1,000-bushel pits long enough to receive the contents of a hopper bottom semi trailer opening both doors for a fast unload cycle. Next to the corn receiving area is a rail car load-unload area that can unload the occasional delivery of corn by railcar. But, it usually loads the dried distillers grain for shipment to other areas in the United States, or to the Gulf of Mexico for export. The local railroad has connecting tracks to rail lines that provide excellent access to many different markets.

This plant is very efficient in production and labor!

The facility is designed to be very efficient. It provides for recycling of steam and water used in the distilling process. Two hammer mills run continually to grind the corn into fine powder, which starts the process of ethanol production. After moving through tanks that ferment the grain and produce alcohol, the wet cake meal is later dried for sale, as the ethanol is processed into a 200 proof product. The final stage in ethanol production involves blending the alcohol so it is unfit for human consumption.

The production process goes on 24 hours per day, and 7 days per week, with only some 32 people involved to maintain the process. Dividing that number of people means somewhere around 6 people per shift are necessary to keep the production line moving, indicating a very efficient production facility.

A pioneer production line in the Pioneer city.

Palestine is known in many states and foreign countries for their annual Labor Day Rodeo and the festivities that accompany this accredited sports event. Palestine, Illinois has dubbed itself as the Pioneer City, as it was the location of the first land office in Illinois as pioneers began to move west. Its location near the Wabash River made it a natural for the first settlements, as transportation by water made it much easier for trade and commerce in this location.

Crawford County, the county called home to Lincoln Land Agri-energy, was once a large county that extended to, and included, Chicago, Illinois. There are records of land patents made during those pioneer days for land in what is now Chicago, then only a swamp few cared to visit.

As it was a pioneer area then, Palestine is now a pioneer again involved in one more step toward less energy dependence on other countries. The leaders involved in this venture are to be congratulated for bringing more jobs to our area, and helping to stimulate the local economy that will benefit all who live here.

Residents here do not just talk about problems; many are proactive and use projects like this new plant to help the local economy. Some mow the grass; our area now grows the gas. We congratulate all involved in this new venture for their forward thinking, and wish them success and profit now and in the future.

Addendum: The 2004 Renewable Fuels Association report contains some interesting facts about U.S. ethanol production. Click on the link to access those interesting facts.

© John Dappert 2004