$4.7 million allows Ethanol Center upgrade
Rosie Githinji
Issue date: 3/4/10 Section: News
The Board of Trustees for Southern Illinois University approved a request for a $4.7 million contribution to upgrade the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center located near SIUE.
According to Frank Romano, business manager for the center, $4.7 million was the estimate given by the engineer working on the project.
The money will be used for a corn fractionation system. The fractionation system would be used to research methods for ways to produce ethanol from the whole corn plant, not just the kernel, according to Romano. Of the money, 25 percent will be saved for any unforeseen problems that may come up.
"If we don't use all the funds we would be able to use it for other work," Romano said. "Our function is to get clients who want to come research [ethanol production.]"
The benefit to upgrading the Center is that there are clients who will have more opportunity to do more research work and get the product from the lab to commercialization.
Budget Director Bill Winter said the money is earmarked for the project and cannot be used for anything else.
John Caupert, National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center director, said the funds come from existing grant money from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The money will be used for the two major capital initiatives during the next 18 to 24 months for the corn fractionation system and an advanced biofuels initiative.
"The NCERC is truly unique in that we are the only facility in the world to have Analytical Laboratory, Fermentation Laboratory, Biofuels Pilot Plant and workforce training all enclosed in one building," Caupert said.
Dave Gross, SIU executive assistant for Government Affairs, said the chancellor brought the project to the BOT since they oversee the finances on campus.
"Generally the board will almost always approve what the campus wants to do," Gross said.
All of the money is coming out of Springfield, not from the university, according to Gross.
"The problem with having a state of the art research center is it takes a lot of money to keep it state of the art," Gross said.
The center is a place for businesses to test ideas and technology so they can make ethanol production more profitable. The research and upgrades mean there is a potential for the industry to grow and create more jobs, according to Gross.
According to Frank Romano, business manager for the center, $4.7 million was the estimate given by the engineer working on the project.
The money will be used for a corn fractionation system. The fractionation system would be used to research methods for ways to produce ethanol from the whole corn plant, not just the kernel, according to Romano. Of the money, 25 percent will be saved for any unforeseen problems that may come up.
"If we don't use all the funds we would be able to use it for other work," Romano said. "Our function is to get clients who want to come research [ethanol production.]"
The benefit to upgrading the Center is that there are clients who will have more opportunity to do more research work and get the product from the lab to commercialization.
Budget Director Bill Winter said the money is earmarked for the project and cannot be used for anything else.
John Caupert, National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center director, said the funds come from existing grant money from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The money will be used for the two major capital initiatives during the next 18 to 24 months for the corn fractionation system and an advanced biofuels initiative.
"The NCERC is truly unique in that we are the only facility in the world to have Analytical Laboratory, Fermentation Laboratory, Biofuels Pilot Plant and workforce training all enclosed in one building," Caupert said.
Dave Gross, SIU executive assistant for Government Affairs, said the chancellor brought the project to the BOT since they oversee the finances on campus.
"Generally the board will almost always approve what the campus wants to do," Gross said.
All of the money is coming out of Springfield, not from the university, according to Gross.
"The problem with having a state of the art research center is it takes a lot of money to keep it state of the art," Gross said.
The center is a place for businesses to test ideas and technology so they can make ethanol production more profitable. The research and upgrades mean there is a potential for the industry to grow and create more jobs, according to Gross.
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