The Madison County Energy Advisory Board was recently created to help promote and protect energy-related businesses within the region.
“It is important that Madison County develops and carries out a strategy that will benefit our residents, protect existing jobs in the energy sector and assist the businesses in the energy sector,” Madison County Chairman Alan J. Dunstan said at the board’s first meeting.
The board will help energy-related businesses in the county deal with local governments and laws affecting their companies.
The members of the advisory board include Melissa Erker of Phillips 66 (Wood River Refinery), Jim Potje of Ameren Illinois, Andrew Jones of Southwestern Illinois Electric Co-Op, Brad Ross of Abengoa Bioenergy, Matt Schrimpf of the HWRT Oil Co., Don Vichitvongsa of Sun Coke Energy, Kevin Conner of Linde Inc., Dan Cook of the Highland Electric System, and Courtney Breckendridge of the National Corn to Ethanol Research Center.
Frank Miles, administrator of the Madison County Community and Economic Development, will represent the county on the board.
“The county has been successful in planning and taking advantage of its location, and becoming one of the premier logistical and inter-modal distribution centers in the country,” Dunstan said. “Now, it is important the county utilizes that same strategic approach to the energy sector.”
During its first meeting, the board discussed issues such as permits from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, taxing districts, preservation of enterprise zones and local official interaction.
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