INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Indiana's Lt. Governor Skillman, Indiana Department of Correction Commissioner J. David Donahue, and John Murphy, Vice President and General Manager of Johnson Controls Inc., announced that four state prisons will be converted to systems that burn corn for heat.

"Indiana is becoming a leader in the bioenergy area.

"We have become an overnight success in the biofuels production game and are rapidly expanding the number of public pumps that offer E85 - ethanol fuel made from corn - and biodiesel - diesel fuel made from soybean oil - to Hoosiers," said Lt. Governor Skillman.

"This contract will change the way we do business and affect all of corrections-- employees, offenders and facilities," said Commissioner Donahue.

"These improvements include upgrades and retrofits to energy management systems, installation of water conservation devices, facility-wide lighting upgrades and a cleaner environment."

The INDOC will instal four corn-fueled biomass systems at the Plainfield Correctional facility, Pendleton Correctional facility, Westville Correctional facility and Indiana State Prison.

Indiana corn will fuel the boilers and Hoosier contractors will install them.

Each year, the INDOC expects to spend $2.6 million buying Indiana corn. which is more than 1.6 million bushels of corn grown on 116 thousand acres of Hoosier farmland.

"This is really a win, win deal," said Commissioner J. David Donahue.

"Not only will Indiana farmers have a new market for their corn, the Department of Correction will save millions on energy costs."

"This project truly is Indiana people, growing and buying Indiana corn to improve the efficiency of Indiana facilities while having a global impact on the environment," said John Murphy, vice president and general manager, Johnson Controls.

"Johnson Controls is excited to be a part of such a dynamic and innovative solution to energy concerns and aging facility systems."

"This plan also has a positive impact on taxpayers because it is self-funding: money saved from the energy savings will pay the debt service associated with this project.

"We are proud of the Department of Corrections for that money saving, fiscally-conscience idea," added Lt. Governor Skillman.