"Federal funds in the amount of $13.86 million have been released from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for construction of the National Corn Ethanol Research Pilot Plant, which will be located at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.  The State of Illinois committed $6 million in matching funds for the project.

"Reducing the cost of clean-burning ethanol fuel is an important part of our nation's alternative energy strategy," said Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois  "If Congress bans MTBE, as I hope it will, ethanol will need to step up to the plate and replace MTBE in the clean air program.  This ethanol research plant will help the industry meet that challenge," said Illinois Senator Peter Fitzgerald.  "This plant is an important part in reducing our nation's energy dependence on foreign oil, and since Illinois is the largest producer of ethanol, it only makes sense to locate the plant here," said Illinois Representative John Shimkus.