Legislation seeks boost in state's bio-based economy

Legislation designed to grow Illinois' bio-based economy has been introduced by Sens. Andy Manar, a Bunker Hill Democrat, and Chapin Rose, a Republican from Mahomet.

Senate Bill 1656 provides incentives to Illinois businesses to produce and sell new renewable products made from biomass and other renewable sources.

The legislation builds upon Illinois' strong agricultural base and seeks to provide new products and markets derived from grain commodities and their by-products. Universities and private companies are investing in a race with other states in research and development to introduce these products to the marketplace.

"Illinois is strategically positioned to lead in the development of these new renewable products. We have leading biotechnology companies, large and small, that are leading research and development efforts on these innovative products and we have critical mass in infrastructure to produce and transport these renewables around the world," said Senator Manar.

Rose led efforts last year to secure a $26 million research investment in the University of Illinois' Integrated Bioprocessing Research Laboratory to work with the industrial biotechnology sector to accelerate growth of this rapidly emerging biotechnology sector.

"This legislation is all about the jobs that will be created in this potential $20 billion new industry," Rose said. "Central Illinois is perfectly suited with the production and shipping capacity in Decatur on one side, the Integrated Bioprocessing Research Lab (IBRL) in Urbana on the other side, and the best corn and beans in the world in between to be the center of this new industry."

Industrial Biotechnology is enabling the production of a new generation of renewable chemicals, biobased materials and bioplastics produced from biomass. These can serve as a replacement or supplement to traditional fossil fuel-based chemicals and products. The emergence of this technology represents a historic opportunity to reverse job losses in the chemicals and plastics sectors, increase energy security, replace fossil fuel-derived chemicals, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, maintain U.S. leadership in clean energy and chemistry, and build domestic renewable chemicals and biobased production facilities.