ETHANOL PROMOTER RECOGNIZED BY CORN GROWERS

Lindsay Mitchell

Dec 12, 2016  |  ICGA

Bloomington, IL – John Sullivan, retiring State Senator (D-Rushville), was recognized by the Illinois Corn Growers Association for his work in support of the ethanol industry during their Annual Meeting at the Marriott Hotel and Conference Center today.   He was presented with the Ethanol Award which seeks to celebrate the contributions of individuals that promote the ethanol industry.

“Senator Sullivan has been a tireless advocate for agriculture – one that will be sorely missed.  Advocating for agriculture in general and ethanol specifically is going to be considerably more difficult without his voice of reason and open-mindedness in Springfield,” said Jeff Jarboe, President of the Illinois Corn Growers Association.

Sullivan was first elected to the Senate in 2002.  Since that time, he has served on various committees, among them the Agriculture Committee, Transportation Committee, and Environment and Conservation Committee.  He has also served as Assistant Majority Leader since 2011.  Sullivan did not seek reelection in November 2016 and his service with the Senate will end in January 2017.

In 2003, during his first year in the Illinois Senate, Sullivan led the effort to extend the state sales tax credit for 10 percent blends of ethanol (E10) and for the first time included E85.  Also within that legislation, he created a grant program that helped to build several new ethanol plants in Illinois.

As his tenure in the Senate continued, he worked for appropriations on the programs that were set up under that 2003 legislation to forward the development of the IL ethanol industry.

More recently, Sullivan could always be counted on to sponsor ICGA legislation that would bring 15 percent ethanol to the marketplace.

Sullivan graduated from Quincy College, now Quincy University, in 1981 with a Bachelor of Arts in history.  Before joining the Senate, he worked on his family farm.