Quinn blames Caterpillar choice on no ocean access

CHAMPAIGN – Gov. Pat Quinn said Thursday he believes Caterpillar’s decision to bypass Illinois while it looks to build a new plant and relocate some of its Japanese operations was based almost entirely on Illinois’ lack of ocean access and had little to do with the state’s business climate.

The Peoria-based manufacturer said this week it decided against about a dozen Illinois locations vying for the plant and its 1,400 jobs because of logistical shortcomings and its longstanding, widely publicized concerns about doing business in the state.

Quinn, during a stop at University of Illinois in Champaign, said he spoke with Caterpillar CEO Doug Oberhelman before this week’s decision and was told the plant needed easy access to a deep-sea port.

“I personally spoke with Doug Oberhelman about that,” Quinn said. “He told me at the time that logistics would drive that [decision]. ... He also pointed out that they needed a deep-sea port.”

Caterpillar spokesman Jim Dugan on Thursday declined comment on the company’s decision, only saying Oberhelman had “recently communicated with the administration” about the decision.

In an email to leaders in cities and counties in Illinois that hoped to lure the plant, Caterpillar said its concerns were both logistical and governmental.