In January 2005, a "Green Energy" marketing and communication initiative was created to bring new life to several former Brownfield industrial sites located in the Metro East, Illinois. In the past, thousand of workers went to work each day in the heavy industry plants in Sauget. When many of these facilities downscaled or closed operations, the area was left with a large number of abandoned and vacant former heavy industry plants. As a result, the area has extensive underutilized utilities infrastructure, such as water, sewer, roads, etc., which has turned into an asset for the regional area.

The Metro East is well positioned as a prime location with direct access to the Mississippi River, close proximity to two major rail yards (Alton & Southern and Union Pacific Railroads), and in the center of major transportation arteries connecting the East and West Coasts of the United States. Two major airports also serve the region; MidAmerica Airport in Mascoutah, Illinois and the St. Louis Downtown Airport located right next door. 

MidAmerica Airport contains the only international port of entry for goods coming into and out of the U. S. and the only foreign trade zone, located in the center of the country. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, the St. Louis Downtown Airport is the 3rd busiest airport in the State of Illinois. St. Louis Downtown Airport lies only 7 minutes from the Gateway Arch and provides travelers with a strategic destination point for attending sporting events or business meetings. Many top ranking business executives and politicians utilize the airport on a frequent basis for its location and ease of use. A new 10-story air traffic control tower and 5,000 square foot administrative support building are currently under construction.

The Metro East is also strategically located in the BioBelt for agricultural production of corn, soybeans, and other renewable fuels feed stocks. Additionally, the Metro East fostered a strategic alliance with the National Corn-To-Research Institute located nearby at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, Illinois. The alliance helped the village to attract high potential green energy companies. The State of Illinois and Metro East provide new companies with an attractive combination of financial incentives, including Enterprise Zone, TIF Benefits, Prime Sites Grants, Edge Program Funding, industrial revenue bonds, low interest loans, workforce development incentives, and others incentives.

Sauget is a pro-business environment with ease of regulatory compliance. The village oversees the operation of the P-Chem plant to process industrial waste water, so regional processing and chemical plants can run their facilities with approval of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. The combination of existing infrastructure, strategic location, agricultural resources, and financial incentives makes the Metro East a prime location for the redevelopment of the area into a "Green Energy" production and distribution center for the United States to international markets. 

As the marketing and communications activities were implemented, the Metro East "Green Energy" Initiative received significant recognition from high ranking elected officials, agency representatives, and key renewable fuels industry thought leaders, elected officials and agency representatives. The high level of recognition has provided companies that participate in the initiative an opportunity to receive grant funding and financial incentives from the State of Illinois and other funding sources. For example, Solutia received an $80,000 Illinois Agrifirst Grant to study the potential of converting existing equipment into the production of renewable fuels. The reputation of the "Green Energy" initiative for producing high profile projects that bring significant jobs and revenue to the State of Illinois has become a key factor in the success in attracting prominent companies to the area and receiving financial incentive support.