BLOOMINGTON, ILL – April 9, 2022 – The Illinois Soybean Growers (ISG) is celebrating the passage of the organization’s B20 Legislation, sponsored by State Senator Patrick Joyce (D–Essex) and State Representative Eva Dina Delgado (D–Chicago). The legislation passed both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly and now heads to the desk of Governor Pritzker.
“This hard-won victory is the result of ISG’s unrelenting collaboration with the bill sponsors Senator Patrick Joyce and Representative Eva Dina Delgado, numerous partners across agriculture, biofuels producers, transportation stakeholders and clean air advocates who are all working to present a viable and immediate solution to combat carbon emissions in the transportation sector,” says ISA Chairman, Steve Pitstick. “When signed into law this will transition the sales tax exemption from 10% biodiesel blends to 19%, which will not only significantly enhance the environmental benefits of biodiesel, but also lead to strengthened demand for this Illinois grown, renewable fuel by about 125 million gallons.”
In addition to these tremendous boons to Illinois’ agricultural economy, biodiesel also offers immense health and environmental benefits. Biodiesel reduces lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by up to 86%, and once the law is fully implemented it is expected to reduce GHG emissions by nearly 200 thousand tons.
Additionally, biodiesel is a reliable, high-performance fuel that works in any diesel engine without modifications. Several transit fleet leaders in Illinois have already adopted blends of 20% biodiesel, including: The Chicago Park District, the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, the Cook-Illinois Corporation, and numerous municipality fleets in the Chicagoland area.
“This is a proud day for the Illinois Soybean Growers, and the 43,000 soybean producers in our state,” says Pitstick. “When signed by Governor Pritzker this law will improve our environment, and will continue the major role that soybeans and biodiesel have played in improving air quality for millions of Illinoisans. This will also provide support and certainty for the Illinois biodiesel industry and the use of Illinois grown fuels to meet Illinois’ goals.”
The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) checkoff and membership programs represent more than 43,000 soybean farmers in Illinois. The checkoff funds market development and utilization efforts while the membership program supports the government relations interests of Illinois soybean farmers at the local, state, and national level, through the Illinois Soybean Growers (ISG). ISA upholds the interests of Illinois soybean producers through promotion, advocacy, and education with the vision of becoming a market leader in sustainable soybean production and profitability. For more information, visit the website www.ilsoy.org and ilsoygrowers.com.
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