Illinois’ newest ethanol plant adds to a growing list of facilities that are part of the Monsanto Processor Preferred Network.

Patriot Renewable Fuels CEO Gene Griffith says they hope to use as much corn as possible from local farmers to produce ethanol at the new 100 million gallon per year plant. “We will need approximately 215,000 acres worth of corn every year to keep the plant at capacity,” Griffith says. “We hope to buy as much corn as we can from area producers and provide a new market opportunity for them.”

In special demand will be Monsanto’s Processor Preferred® High Fermentable Corn (HFC) hybrids, which can produce 2 percent to 4 percent more ethanol per bushel than commodity corn. Patriot joins approximately 70 ethanol plants in 16 states that are participating in the Processor Preferred Network.

“High-fermentable corn is a win-win for both corn growers and Patriot Renewable Fuels,” says Rob Elliott, Processor Preferred Market Manager for Monsanto. “Farmers have a new corn market, and the ethanol producer has a more productive and efficient local source of corn. We are very pleased to have Patriot Renewable Fuels as part of our initiative.”

Patriotically, the new plant in northwest Illinois held open houses on Wednesday and Thursday this week, right after election day. Patriot is one of the largest locally owned and operated dry grind ethanol plants in the state, made possible by the investment of farmers and businesses located in Annawan, Kewanee, Geneseo and the surrounding communities in Henry, Bureau and Rock Island counties.