SB0241 creates the Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program within the Illinois Environmental Protection Act and assigns administration to the Department of Agriculture. The program would award grants to petroleum marketers, petroleum terminal operators, and other companies the Department of Agriculture deems eligible, to help pay for equipment and infrastructure needed to store and dispense higher-blend renewable fuels. Eligible costs include tank modifications, tanks, piping, fuel dispensers, and other equipment the Department of Agriculture identifies by rule.
The bill establishes a new special fund in the State treasury, the Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Fund, and authorizes quarterly transfers from the Underground Storage Tank Fund to support the grant program. It also caps grants at $1 million per recipient and limits support to private-sector entities, expressly barring funding to any public body. The bill further creates a Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Task Force to review the program, gather stakeholder feedback, and advise on whether it should be renewed after June 30, 2027.
Impact
SB0241 would amend the State Finance Act and the Environmental Protection Act to create a new grant program and dedicated fund for renewable fuels infrastructure. It would redirect money from the Underground Storage Tank Fund into the new Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Fund, subject to a minimum balance threshold, and would authorize the Department of Agriculture to distribute grants for infrastructure upgrades that support higher ethanol and biodiesel blends. The bill would primarily affect fuel retailers, terminal operators, and related companies, while excluding public bodies from eligibility.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee testimony or votes in the provided materials, the bill appears to be framed positively as an economic and infrastructure support measure for renewable fuels. Its structure suggests support for ethanol and biodiesel markets, particularly through the involvement of corn and soybean stakeholders on the task force. No formal opposition, amendments, or recorded roll-call sentiment is available in the provided context.
Contention
The main potential points of contention are the funding source and eligibility rules. The bill would transfer money from the Underground Storage Tank Fund, which may raise concerns about diverting resources from environmental or safety-related uses. It also excludes public bodies and limits grants to private fuel infrastructure operators, which could prompt questions about whether the program should support public or broader regional fuel access projects. The task force composition, which includes petroleum industry representatives and agricultural groups, may also draw scrutiny over balance and influence.