URBANA – A group of more than 120 organizations, schools, local governments and businesses are banding together to increase public and private use of renewable energy sources in Illinois.

Leaders of the movement announced the formation of the 25x'25 Illinois Renewable Energy Alliance on Thursday during the University of Illinois Agronomy Day at the South Farms.

Alliance Director Blake Roderick, who also is executive director of the Farm Bureaus in Pike and Scott counties, said the coalition was organized to promote the goal of producing 25 percent of all energy used in Illinois by the year 2025.

"Renewable energy has been a big issue for us, and we look at 25x'25 as the vehicle to help reach that goal," he said. The coalition intends to work to increase use of biofuels, ethanol, biomass, methane digesters, wind farms, solar energy and hydroelectric generation.

"By 2025, American farms, forests and ranches can provide 25 percent of the total energy consumed and produce safe, abundant and affordable food, feed and fiber," said Scott County farmer Mike Wortman.

Griggsville soybean farmer Philip Bradshaw said he thinks the coalition is a good idea.

"We need to work together to do anything we can to slow down the importation of oil, whether it is biofuel or solar energy," Bradshaw said.

Roderick admitted that the higher cost of renewable energy compared with traditional energy sources will make reaching the 25 percent goal a significant challenge. He estimated 2 percent of Illinois' current energy use comes from renewable sources.

"That is going to be one of the challenges, but we believe that, as the market for renewable energy and the production of renewable energy expands, the cost will go down considerably," Roderick said.

Colleges and schools will be charged with educating the public about the benefits of switching to renewable energy, while businesses will be challenged to consider renewable sources and to convert to those sources.

"To facilitate these big projects and solve some problems in the bioenergy arena, we need partnerships," said Hans Blaschek, director of the UI Center for Advanced BioEnergy Research. "Moving to renewables will contribute to overall gasoline displacement."

Governments will be given the task of providing the infrastructure – from electrical grids to pipelines– to make renewable energy practical and affordable for years to come.

"Not only are we addressing liquid fuel and electricity generation, but we are also bringing in hydroelectric, wind power and solar power as part of the renewable portfolio," said Congressman John Shimkus, R-Collinsville. "The only thing we have done to reduce our dependency on imported crude oil in this country is biofuel."

Roderick said Illinois becomes the 15th state to have its own renewable energy alliance, with 20 additional states considering organizing similar alliances.

Groups or businesses interested in joining the alliance can find more information at www.25x25.org.