The Renewable Fuels Development Program provides grants for the construction of new biofuels production facilities with a capacity of at least 30 million gallons per year and/or the expansion of existing biofuel production facilities by at least 30 million gallons per year.  The maximum grant award under this program is $5.5 million per facility. 

Additionally, DCEO provides grants up to $25,000 through its Biofuels Business Planning Grant Program for the development of business plans, engineering designs, permit applications, and/or legal work for potential new biofuel production facilities.

The RFDP is designed to:

• increase the production of ethanol and biodiesel fuels in Illinois
• expand the market and demand for Illinois agricultural products
• create new construction and permanent jobs in Illinois
• expand rural economic development in Illinois
• reduce the nation's dependence on foreign oil
• improve air quality through the reduction of harmful vehicular exhaust emissions

Program details:

• The minimum eligible facility size is 30 million gallons per year.
• A Project Labor Agreement is required to be eligible to receive a grant award.
• Maximum RFDP grant award is $5.5 million
• Total grant award cannot exceed 10% of the total construction costs of the facility or $0.10 per gallon of additional biofuels production capacity, whichever is greater.

For example, In 2004, $4.7 million was awarded to Lincolnland Agri-Energy for the construction of a 45 million gallon per year ethanol facility in Robinson, Illinois.

Click here to download the Illinois Renewable Fuels Development Program Guidelines and Application Form.

For more information on the RFDP, please contact:

Norm Marek
217/785-5082
Norm.Marek@illinois.gov

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