A second Illinois biodiesel plant is slated to begin production soon in Iroqouis County. The 30-million gallon biodiesel production plant, operated by Incobrasa Industries, Ltd., will crush and use up to 20 million bushels of soybeans annually.

"We have the facility in place, the expertise from our connections in Brazil and easy access to Illinois soybeans," says Craig Kief, head of research and business development for Incobrasa. The company has operated a soybean processing facility near Gilman since 1997.

Incobrasa currently produces 36 million gallons of soybean oil per year. The oil not used in biodiesel production will continue to be contracted as private-label bottled oil.

"We will be able to produce oil for either market," continues Kief. "Most biodiesel producers purchase crude oil for production, but we will continue to refine and bleach our soybean oil for our biodiesel feedstock. A better quality input oil will produce a better quality biodiesel," he says.

The plant will move to full capacity in mid-November, and Incobrasa will be purchasing more soybeans. "We use nearly 100% Illinois soybeans," adds Kief.

The Illinois Soybean Association welcomes the growth in the state's soy-based biodiesel industry. "Illinois offers the most attractive biodiesel tax incentives of any state – incentives to build plants and incentives for sales, which increase demand for biodiesel…and decrease our dependence on foreign oil," says ISA Chairman George Dixon, from Colchester.