Putnam County is the smallest in Illinois, equaling 166 square miles. In that county in the north-central part of the state, the town of Hennepin rests on a bluff overlooking the Illinois River. Walking by the river, one is likely to see ships filled with grain drift by or perhaps the bald eagles that nest near the power plant, Hennepin's first major industry. Like many rural communities, growth is slow in this town of 700. However, on April 20, Hennepin witnessed the start-up of its second major industry: Marquis Energy LLC.
This 100 MMgy ethanol plant, pronounced MAR-kwis, is privately owned by three investors who initiated their design plans in December 2004. Two years were spent on development and planning, with construction lasting approximately a year and a half. All in all, the project finished on time and under budget. Mark Marquis, president and chief executive officer of Marquis Inc., cites the dedication and professionalism of the vendors, and specifically the teams from Fagen Inc. and ICM Inc. as crucial to meeting Marquis Inc.'s construction goals.
Marquis has led his company for more than 30 years, owning and operating two grain elevators, a retail fertilizer and chemical plant, and a trucking company. Marquis also built two wholesale barge docks, and operates a fleet of barges and a tugboat on the Illinois River.
Although much has changed in the ethanol industry in the past four years, which may have altered the plans of other plants midway through construction, Marquis' plan remained constant. He believes his plant has some benefits that may be common to many plants across the industry but aren't often found in one single plant.
For Marquis and his team, one benefit is location. "This is probably one of the top sites in the country," he says. Hennepin is at the end of a 13-mile rail spur near Highway 80, which runs east and west through northern Illinois. The plant is located on a Norfolk Southern Class I railroad, which brings the eastern United States within easy reach. It's also positioned on the banks of the Illinois River. "Barge is the lowest cost-per-unit freight and gives us a real advantage," Marquis says.
Another important benefit is the company's additional revenue streams. In addition to ethanol and distillers grains, Marquis Energy is considering marketing its corn oil to local biodiesel producers. "We think there's a good opportunity to implement some efficiency gains over the next year or two," says Marquis of the company's corn-oil extraction plans.
In terms of immediate efficiencies, Marquis says that his plant is the first 100 MMgy ethanol facility to use only steam-tube dryers for its distillers grains. "Most plants have a natural gas, forced-air dryer," he says. "These dryers are six rotary steam-tube dryers that operate at 225 degrees (Fahrenheit), as opposed to 650 degrees for the typical natural-gas dryer." Not only does this allow the facility to realize an energy savings, it produces a higher-quality product. "Because it dries at a lower temperature, we get better color and flowability," Marquis says.
For many companies, getting into the ethanol industry can be a challenge. Seeing a plant through to completion takes drive and endurance. For Marquis Energy, getting into the industry in an ideal location made all the difference. Its site offers options and opportunities that are sometimes difficult to find. However, Marquis looks at the big picture: what ethanol means to the local community and society at large. "We're happy to be Americans in a free country, where you can have a business plan, carry it out and see it be successful," he says.
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