Illinois ethanol plant announces corn bid

By Times staff | Friday, May 16, 2008

Consolidated Grain & Barge has begun posting basis bids for corn delivery at Patriot Renewable Fuels LLC, near Annawan, Ill., which is scheduled to open later this summer, according to Patriot’s CEO/Chairman Gene Griffith.

Dan Aubry, grain procurement manager for Consolidated Grain, said the company is offering a “buyer’s call” contract for the last half of July. Delivery periods will be scheduled in 10-day increments and the plant will require almost 150,000 bushels of corn per day for processing. Interested parties may contact Consolidated Grain at (309) 935-5750 or (866) 429-0909.

Once operational Patriot expects to be one of the largest locally owned and operated dry grind ethanol plants in Illinois. Midwestern and local citizens, farmers and businesses, primarily from Annawan, Kewanee, Geneseo and the surrounding communities in Henry, Bureau and Rock Island counties, invested in the ethanol plant.

The plant held a job fair April 5 and is in the process of hiring. It is expected to open sometime in August with training to begin about eight weeks prior to the start-up, plant manager Rick Vondra said.