Congressman John Shimkus (R, Illinois-19) received the first ever “Fueling Growth” award from Growth Energy, a national organization of producers and supporters of ethanol.  The award presentation was made at the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center (NCERC) on the campus of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville on October 19.

John Caupert, director of the NCERC, stated, “Congressman Shimkus is among the first recipients of this award due to his dedication and unwavering support of the ethanol industry.  I am very honored to be making this presentation.

“Congressman Shimkus has not only supported the NCERC in Congress but has pushed ethanol and biofuels through legislation over his entire career,” Caupert added.

Shimkus said, “This award is a result of my constituents doing their job.  Farmers have never been shy about telling me we need markets for our products, and consumers have never been shy about telling me we need to stop importing oil from overseas.  Ethanol is a perfect way to produce a domestic, renewable fuel.”

Illinois ranks number three in U.S. ethanol production, which will total over 14 billion gallons this year.  Ethanol is now over ten percent of our domestic fuel consumption.