Pilot Program Will Yield Public Sector Energy Savings;
Create More Than 100 Green Jobs

CHICAGO - November 16, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today announced Illinois Energy Now grants to help more public sector entities - such as schools, parks and police - incorporate energy efficiency into their buildings and save money. Awarded through the Illinois Energy Now Public Sector Energy Efficiency Aggregation Program, the grants will provide an estimated $7.1 million in energy cost savings to public sector facilities, including schools, community colleges and local municipality buildings. The initiative will help create more than 100 green sector jobs.

"By improving energy efficiency in public facilities, we are making Illinois a greener place to live and work," Governor Quinn said. "This program will help save money on public facility energy costs and create green sector jobs to keep our economy growing."

The Illinois Energy Now program offers a portfolio of both electric and natural gas efficiency programs to achieve targeted annual energy savings goals. The program ensures that the state meets its annual energy savings targets in three sectors: units of local government, community colleges and K-12 schools. The state of Illinois works with the electric service territories of ComEd and Ameren Illinois, and gas service territories of Ameren Illinois, Nicor Gas, Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas to ensure that the state meets its annual energy savings targets.

Grant recipients include the city of Chicago, the Illinois Green Economy Network (IGEN) Community College Partnership, and the Metropolitan Mayors Council. Each of these grantees is responsible for identifying projects eligible for public sector incentives, administering the applications and implementation, and reporting back project data and progress.

The County Commissioners Association was also awarded a $260,000 Illinois Energy Now grant to increase awareness of the energy efficiency incentives for public entities, with the goal of bringing in 60 projects that otherwise would not have had the technical resources to apply.

"Prior to the implementation of the Illinois Energy Now program, Illinois did not have a coordinated effort to achieve public sector energy reduction goals," DCEO director Warren Ribley said. "Through this program, we are helping to lower the energy bills of schools, parks and police stations, while creating green sector jobs."

The Illinois Energy Now program was created under the Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard law, giving Illinois among the most ambitious energy efficiency standards in the nation. The initiative requires Illinois utilities to reduce overall electric usage by 0.2 percent of demand in 2008, escalating to 2.0 percent by 2015.

"Illinois' emphasis on energy efficiency is good policy and good for jobs because it puts our union brothers and sisters to work and provides public sector workers with more resources to make their communities better," said Michael T. Carrigan, President of the Illinois AFL-CIO.

As part of Governor Quinn's efforts to ensure greater energy efficiency and create more green industry jobs, the state's energy efficiency programs created more than 1,440 direct and indirect jobs in the green economy last year. The State Energy Office within the Illinois Department of Commerce of Economic Opportunity administers public sector and low income programs, while utility partners - ComEd, Ameren Illinois, Nicor, Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas - administer residential and business energy efficiency programs. For more information on Illinois Energy Now programs, visit www.illinoisenergy.org.

Announces Business and Education Agreements to Further Expand Partnerships, Trade and Investment Between Illinois and China 

SHANGHAI, CHINA - September 22, 2011. Continuing his trade mission in China, Governor Pat Quinn today visited Shanghai where he announced major steps to build upon Illinois' role as a leading competitor in the global marketplace. While in Shanghai the Governor took part in several economic development and education agreements that will help pave the way for continued trade and innovation between Illinois and China.

"I am committed to making sure that Illinois is a top competitor in today's global marketplace, and our trade and education partnerships with China are a vital part of that." Governor Quinn said. "The agreements and programs our two regions are announcing today build upon those efforts to expand our economies, while also boosting innovation and growing technologies."

Among the business agreements Governor Quinn announced today was a $70 million corn products sales agreement between C&D (USA) Inc., an Illinois-based agricultural export company, and Xiamen C&D Inc. Beginning today, C&D (UDA) Inc. will sell 250,000 metric tons of Illinois corn products to China-based Xiamen C&D, Inc. for $70 million.

C&D USA is a subsidiary of Xiamen C&D. This export agreement will further Governor Quinn's aggressive goal of doubling Illinois exports by 2014. China is Illinois' third largest export destination, and is among the top five states exporting agricultural products to China. In 2011, Illinois ethanol plants sold 200,000 metric tons of corn products to C&D USA for approximately $45 million. C&D USA plans to purchase 250,000 metric tons of corn products from Illinois ethanol plants in 2012 for an estimated $56 million.

Governor Quinn participated in the signing of agreements to further strengthen the business, educational and cultural relationship between Illinois and China. The agreements include a sister river agreement between the state of Illinois and the Shanghai Water Association. Under the agreement, the association and the state will work together to share policies and innovative ideas to preserve the Illinois and Huangpu Rivers.

The Governor also participated in the signing of a sister city agreement between Morton, Ill. and Tiantai County in Zhejiang Province, which will provide opportunities to promote economic development, trade, education, science and technology, and cultural exchange and tourism between the two cities. Tianti-based Zhejiang Yinlun Machinery Co, previously selected Morton as the location of its first U.S. headquarters.

An additional agreement signed today between Zhejiang Province and Illinois was the 1,000 School Initiative to enhance educational opportunities between the two regions. Under this sister schools' agreement, the state of Illinois and Zhejiang Province will work together to make sure that students from both areas receive quality educations. The agreement will allow Illinois and Zhejiang Province to partner in training school staff, hosting summer and winter camps for students, and teaching elementary and secondary education students about the history, culture and languages of both parties.

As an economic and business center of China, Shanghai is known for attracting investment from many overseas companies. Its open policy has made it a magnet for foreign investors. Places like "The Bund" and "Pudong," which have evolved rapidly in past few years in Shanghai, have increased the city's role in

international finance, banking and trade. Shanghai has a strong base in manufacturing and technology. With many technology parks and industrial districts, Shanghai is also the leading industrial base of China.

For updates on Governor Quinn's trip, visit www.Illinois.gov or follow him on Twitter at @GovernorQuinn. More information about Illinois trade and business opportunities can be found on the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity's website at www.illinoisbiz.biz.

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Agreements Continue Illinois' Global Leadership;
Support Governor's aggressive goal of doubling exports by 2014

BEIJING, CHINA - September 19, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn visited Beijing today during his business and economic trade mission in China, where he announced two business agreements that further strengthen the relationship between Illinois and China. The agreements involving Illinois-based ADM and Xinjiang Goldwind Science and Technology Co., LTD (Goldwind) move the state another step closer to reaching Governor Quinn's aggressive goal of doubling Illinois exports by 2014.

"Illinois is a top competitor in the global economy, and our aggressive plans to double exports and develop innovative new partnerships in emerging technology fields are continuing to advance our growth on the international stage," Governor Quinn said. "Our state has the resources, human capital, and innovative drive to expand our global reach. These agreements represent Illinois' ongoing commitment to continue to compete and grow  in the global marketplace."

During his visit to Beijing today, Governor Quinn announced that Goldwind, one of the largest wind turbine manufacturers in the world, will build a $200 million wind farm in Lee County, Illinois. The company will break ground on the Shady Oaks project later this fall. Once online, the project will provide 109.5 megawatts (MW) of power, and create more than 100 construction and a dozen permanent maintenance jobs in Illinois. According to the American Wind Energy Association, one megawatt of wind energy can provide enough electricity to meet the needs of 225-300 households. Therefore, 109.5 MW can provide the electricity needs of approximately 25,000 homes.

"As the largest and most competitive market in the world, the United States is a key component of Goldwind's international growth. Thanks to visionary leaders like Governor Quinn, Goldwind and other renewable energy companies are able to generate an undeniable economic impact in the U.S. wind industry through job creation and supplier agreements," said Goldwind Chairman and CEO Wu Gang. "Goldwind has generated a competitive global footprint and we are focused on continuing that momentum, continuing to demonstrate our technology advantages and continuing to build-out our global supply chain."

Goldwind USA Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology Co, LTD, based in Urumqi, Xinjiang, China. Goldwind USA established its headquarters in Chicago in 2010 to oversee operations in North and South America.

Governor Quinn also announced that Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM), a worldwide food production company based in Decatur, Illinois, has entered into a $100 million sales agreement with Jiusan Oils and Seeds. Under the agreement, ADM will supply Jiusan Oils and Seeds, a manufacturer of soy products based in Harbin, Helongjiang, China, with 180,000 metric tons of soybeans by December 2012.

"This agreement connects Illinois soybean farmers with Chinese consumers and reinforces the growing ties between the State of Illinois and China," said David Ragan, product line manager, ADM. "In addition to helping to meet soybean demand and keep costs consistent for Chinese consumers, this partnership also underscores ADM's advancing interests in China and our commitment to serving China's priorities in food security, food safety and food sustainability."

China is the world's largest market for Illinois soybeans, importing more than 104 million bushels of U.S. soybeans in the 2009/2010 marketing year valued at more than $160 million. Illinois is among the top five states in agricultural exports to China. Illinois agriculture exports to China have increased each year since 2007, from $149 million to $424 million in 2010.

China is Illinois' third largest export destination. Illinois' overall exports to China reached $3.18 billion in 2010, up from $2.47 billion in 2009. Nearly 30 Chinese companies have invested in Illinois, employing thousands of Illinois residents.

or follow him on Twitter at @GovernorQuinn. More information about Illinois trade and business opportunities can be found on the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity's website at