Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has given out $240,000 in Opportunity Returns grants including money for a feasibility study to find new uses for a by-product of biodiesel production.

Northern Illinois University in DeKalb received $16,850, to identify and evaluate new uses for glycerin to use as an energy feedstock.

This from a governor’s press release:

“This investment demonstrates Gov. Blagojevich’s commitment to growing the renewable fuels industry,” Agriculture Director Chuck Hartke said. “In addition to the biodiesel project, funds have been awarded to help establish two facilities that will improve our ability to transport distiller’s dried grains, a by-product of the ethanol manufacturing process that can be sold and used as an animal feed.”

These AgriFIRST grants follow Blagojevich’s energy independence plan to replace 50 percent of the state’s current supply of imported oil with renewable, homegrown biofuels like ethanol and biodiesel. He has proposed investing $100 million over the next 5 years to build up to 20 new ethanol plants across Illinois and $25 million to help build five new biodiesel plants.