LA HARPE, ILL. -- The following is a news release from Congressman Phil Hare's office;

Hare Announces Recovery Act Funds for Clean Energy in La Harpe

LA HARPE, IL-Congressman Phil Hare (D-IL) today visited La Harpe to discuss funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) for Bio-NRG to build a biofuels refinery in La Harpe.

This project was recently awarded $33,750 from the USDA Rural Business Enterprise Grant program and $1 million from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s Next Generation Bio-Fuels Program, both products of ARRA.

“Illinois has been a leader in the production of clean energy technologies which make our nation more energy independent,” Hare said. “I am very pleased that we are investing Recovery Act dollars right here in Hancock County so we can put people to work while also serving an important national interest.”

Bio-NRG is planning to build an oil seed crush facility and refinery in La Harpe. The refinery will be built to be able to flex between different bio-diesel feed stocks and corn based ethanol.

The project will be a $35 million investment and employ over 50 people once in operation.