Section 130.100   Grant Award Evaluation Criteria and Funding Limitations

The Department staff shall utilize the following award evaluation criteria to determine the award amount for any grant to be recommended to the Director:

a)         General Award Evaluation Criteria.

1)         Cooperative ownership share of the project.

2)         The size (total new biofuels production capacity) of the project.

3)         The volume of usage of Illinois agricultural products in the production of renewable fuels at the facility.

4)         The number of permanent new jobs created.

5)         The local or regional economic need for the project.

6)         The current local base prices for corn and soybeans in the project area.

7)         The use of new process technologies, new energy efficiency or energy production technologies, other new technologies designed to reduce production costs or increase profitability of the facility, or the production of new value-added by-products.

8)         In addition to the criteria listed in this subsection (a), the Department may consider one or more of the following factors when evaluating an application, if the Department determines it to be in the best interest of the State of Illinois:

A)        the applicant is considering at least one neighboring state for the project and could reasonably and efficiently locate the project outside of Illinois;

B)        receipt of the award is a major factor in the applicant's decision to locate the project in Illinois and that, without the award, the applicant likely would not create new jobs in Illinois; or

C)        approval of the award would support a business with potential to generate additional growth in the area and create jobs as a result of spin-off businesses.

b)         Grant limitations and other grant award considerations.

1)         The maximum grant award under the program is $5.5 million for either a plant expansion or a new construction project.

2)         Grants for biofuels facilities shall not exceed 10% of the total construction

costs of the facility or expansion, or $0.10 per gallon of additional biofuels production capacity, whichever is greater.

3)         The Department reserves the right to determine the final amount of the grant based on its evaluation of the project, amount of funds available, and the number of applications for program funds.

4)         Funding awards are not transferable or assignable to another project and may not be assigned to another entity without the Department's prior written permission.

5)         The Department will negotiate the structure of the agreement (i.e., advance production payment, conventional grant award, etc.) with the recipient, taking into consideration the organizational status of the recipient, project financing, applicable tax credits and considerations, and applicable Illinois statutory and administrative requirements.