For Release: Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Contact: David Gillies: 202-225-5661

COSTELLO ANNOUNCES USDA AWARD FOR SIUC

Washington - U.S. Congressman Jerry Costello (D-IL) announced today that Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC) has received a $676,722 biomass research grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  The funds will be used for the expansion of ethanol production in the Upper Mississippi River Basin. 

"This grant is designed to help break our country's dependence on foreign sources of oil, and SIU has been a leader in this effort on many fronts," said Costello.  "In addition to biomass and ethanol research, the Coal Research Center is well known for its development of clean coal technologies.  By developing these resources, we can increase our domestic energy supply and spur the economy while making emissions increasingly cleaner."

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