Illinois B20 legislation passes House, heads to governor’s desk

The Illinois Soybean Growers is celebrating the passage of the organization’s B20 legislation, sponsored by State Sen. Patrick Joyce, D–Essex, and State Rep. Eva Dina Delgado, D–Chicago. The legislation passed both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly and now heads to the desk of Gov. J.B. Pritzker. “This hard-won victory is the result of ISG’s unrelenting collaboration with the bill sponsors Sen. Patrick Joyce and Rep. Eva Dina Delgado, numerous partners across agriculture, biofuels producers, transportation stakeholders and clean-air advocates who are all working to present a viable and immediate solution to combat carbon emissions in the transportation sector,” said Steve Pitstick, chairman of the Illinois Soybean Association. “When signed into law this will transition the sales-tax exemption from 10 percent biodiesel blends to 19 percent, which will not only significantly enhance the environmental benefits of biodiesel, but also lead to strengthened demand for this Illinois-grown, renewable fuel by about 125 million gallons.” In addition to these tremendous boons to Illinois’ agricultural economy, biodiesel also offers immense health and environmental benefits. Biodiesel reduces lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by up to 86 percent, and once the law is fully implemented it is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 200,000 tons. Additionally, biodiesel is a reliable, high-performance fuel that works in any diesel engine without modifications. Several transit fleet leaders in Illinois have already adopted blends of 20 percent biodiesel, including the Chicago Park District, the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, the Cook-Illinois Corp., and numerous municipality fleets in the Chicagoland area. “This is a proud day for the Illinois Soybean Growers, and the 43,000 soybean producers in our state,” Pitstick said. “When signed by Gov. Pritzker this law will improve our environment and will continue the major role that soybeans and biodiesel have played in improving air quality for millions of Illinoisans. This will also provide support and certainty for the Illinois biodiesel industry and the use of Illinois-grown fuels to meet Illinois’ goals.”

The bill passed the Illinois Senate in late March.