EVANSVILLE – Governor Jim Doyle today announced $4 million for the construction of the first soybean crushing facility in the state that will create the soybean oil that will eventually become biodiesel.   Landmark Services Cooperative, a farmer-owned cooperative, was awarded the grant to build a plant with the capacity to process 20 million bushels of soybeans annually.

“The soybeans Wisconsin grows so well will stay here in the state, get processed in Evansville and may end up fueling the tractors along these roads,” Governor Doyle said.  “This facility offers us a way to create jobs, free us from big oil companies and advance our commitment to renewable energy.”

A soybean crushing facility separates soybean oil from the rest of the bean, which can then be processed into bio-diesel.  Currently, most of the state’s soybean crop is processed in other states and sold back to Wisconsin farmers for feed.  Last year the state’s first large-scale commercial biodiesel plant opened in DeForest with the capacity of producing 20 million gallons of biodiesel annually from a variety of feedstock sources, including soybean oil.

Wisconsin ranked 14th in the nation in soybean production in 2007 with 51.9 million bushels.  Wisconsin is the only top-producing soybean state without a large-scale soybean crushing facility.

In March, Governor Doyle launched Clean Energy Wisconsin, a comprehensive plan to move Wisconsin forward by promoting renewable energy, creating new jobs, increasing energy security and efficiency, and improving the environment.

The Governor’s plan for energy independence includes:  Generating 25 percent of our electricity and 25 percent of the fuels for our cars and trucks from renewable sources by the year 2025; capturing 10 percent of the market share for renewable energy and bioproducts; and utilizing Wisconsin’s tremendous capability for research to become the country’s leader in making alternative energies more affordable and available to all.

The next steps in reaching a clean energy future will require Wisconsin to make targeted investments in job creation and new business opportunities, develop new energy supplies, and focus on climate stewardship.

To read Governor Doyle’s plan for energy independence, Clean Energy Wisconsin, visit:

http://www.wisgov.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=13459.