Marquis Energy Puts Illinois Ethanol Plant Expansion on Hold

---

Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Privately held Marquis Energy LLC (Hennepin, Illinois) delayed expansion plans to double production capacity after a tax assessment dispute with the Putnam County Assessment Office in Illinois. The county valued the plant at about $26 million, and the company says that this figure is "incorrect and grossly exaggerated."

Marquis is disputing the value of the facility, and a hearing with the county and state is scheduled for next year. The expansion remains as future plans for the plant, but until a value is agreed upon, the plans will remain on hold.

The 140 million-gallon-per-year Fagen-built plant has been in operation since 2006, in the middle of the ethanol boom. The facility was expanded from 100 million gallons per to its current permitted capacity. The new plant was expected to be a twin of the existing plant, producing 140 million gallons per year--bringing the site to a total of 280 million gallons per year--at an estimated cost of about $120 million.

No timeline was given regarding when the expansion project would start, and the company blames the assessment for the delaying of construction jobs and 40 permanent positions when the plant is completed.

Marquis also operates a 56 million-gallon-per-year plant in Necedah, Wisconsin, but has no current plans to increase capacity at the facility.

Industrial Info's databases provide a comprehensive outline of all current development activities in the emerging alternative fuels market. Our North American Biodiesel Database covers 136 operational plants and 90 plants under development. Our North American Ethanol Database covers 214 plants currently in operation and 138 plants in various phases of development. Our North American Wood Fuel Pellet Database includes 63 operational plants producing greater than 25,000 tons annually, and 38 projects in progress. View Plant Profile - 1067555 1064377
View Project Report - 300029097

Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with world headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. IIR's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle™, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities.