Officials with Landmark Services Cooperative have announced they want to partner with the state of Wisconsin to build a soybean crushing facility near Evansville, WI., which could help the possibilities of a biodiesel facility going in to the same area.

This story in Wisconsin Ag Connection has more details:

During a public press conference at its Rock County facilities on Thursday, Landmark urged the state Legislature to support Governor Doyle’s $30 million renewable energy package and include a grant and incentive program for the distribution and production of biodiesel in the state budget, including $4 million toward the development of a soybean crushing facility. State Sen. Jon Erpenbach and Rep. Brett Davis, longtime proponents for legislation supporting renewable energy, are also pushing the measure in the state legislature.

Landmark President John Blaska says his company is committed to the increased use of renewable resources in the state, including biodiesel fuel which is why our support for the Governor’s $30 million renewable package is strong.

“We are excited about the prospective partnership–both strategically and financially–with Wisconsin government to invest in a soybean crushing facility in Evansville which will provide a great boost to Wisconsin’s biodiesel, soybean and increasing livestock industries,” Blaska said. “This is not only beneficial for the environment but is important for our state’s economy and to stay competitive in the biodiesel and agricultural sectors.”

The article goes on to call Evansville ‘geographical gem’ for this kind of project because nearby farmland and easy access to truck and rail transportation. Also, the 45-million-gallon-a-year North Prairie Productions biodiesel plant is under construction right next door.