Document:

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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.9

January 10, 2003

Mr. Kevin Roche
President
United Wisconsin Grain Producers, LLC
PO Box 247
Friesland, WI 53935 - 0247

RE:  LETTER OF INTENT FOR
     CARBON DIOXIDE PURCHASE AGREEMENT FOR FRIESLAND, WISCONSIN

Dear Mr. Roche:

This letter of intent, when signed by the parties hereto, expresses the present
intention of The BOC Group, Inc., through its BOC Gases division, ("Prospective
Buyer"), and United Wisconsin Grain Producers, LLC ("Prospective Seller"), to
negotiate in good faith a mutually acceptable contract (the "Contract") which
will incorporate the various matters outlined below, together with such other
terms and conditions as the parties may deem necessary in a final agreement with
respect to the purchase and sale of carbon dioxide ("CO2").

     1.        Prospective Seller will make available to Prospective Buyer all
          of the gaseous CO2 that will be produced as a by-product of the
          ethanol plant that Prospective Seller plans to construct in Friesland,
          Wisconsin.

     2.        Prospective Buyer will construct a CO2 liquefaction plant (the
          "Plant") of approximately 325 TPD capacity to coincide with the first
          Contract Year as described in Section 4 hereto.

     3.        Prospective Seller will make available to Prospective Buyer, at a
          nominal price, land suitable for erecting and operating the Plant.
          Prospective Seller will provide access to such land for Prospective
          Buyer's employees, its customers and its agents as well as for trucks
          involved in construction of the Plant and delivery of CO2, as well as
          access to rail for loading rail cars. Prospective Buyer may, at its
          option, either build its own or enter into a contract with a qualified
          third party to build a dry ice production facility on Prospective
          Seller's property.

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     4.        The first Contract Year shall commence on October 1, 2004,
          provided that Prospective Seller is able to produce at least 325 TPD
          of CO2 for thirty (30) consecutive days prior to October 1, 2004 and
          expects to continue producing at, or in excess of this level for six
          (6) months following October 1, 2004.

     5.        Prospective Buyer will pay Prospective Seller a monthly fee of
          forty five thousand dollars ($45,000.00) for each month ("Facility
          Fee") commencing with the first date of commercial operations,
          provided however, that the Facility Fee shall be appropriately reduced
          pro-rata in favor of Prospective Buyer to the extent that Prospective
          Seller is unable for whatever reason to supply the CO2 as per
          Paragraph 1. In addition, Prospective Buyer will pay a base price for
          by-product gaseous CO2 provided by Prospective Seller to Prospective
          Buyer during the first Contract Year of $3.00 per ton of liquid CO2
          for product ("Base Price").

     6.        Prospective Seller will supply Prospective Buyer with its water
          requirements. Prospective Seller and Prospective Buyer will cooperate
          in obtaining the site's operating and environmental permits.
          Prospective Buyer will return condensate and cooling tower blow down
          and other water effluent streams to Prospective Seller. Prospective
          Buyer will be responsible for all utility costs for the operation of
          Prospective Buyer's Plant.

     7.        Prospective Seller will provide feedgas to Prospective Buyer that
          conforms with the specifications in Exhibit A hereto ("Product").

     8.        Upon the first anniversary of the commencement of deliveries
          hereunder, and annually thereafter, the Base Price per ton shall be
          adjusted by 100% of the percentage change in Prospective Buyer's
          selling price per ton for purified and liquefied CO2 to Prospective
          Buyer's customers in the state of Wisconsin. Prospective Seller shall
          have the right to have an independent public accountant, reasonably
          acceptable to Prospective Buyer, audit the records of Prospective
          Buyer to substantiate Prospective Buyer's calculations. Prospective
          Buyer shall make its records pertaining to this computation available
          for audit once each Contract Year during regular business hours.

     9.        Prospective Seller will invoice Prospective Buyer once each month
          based on the scale weight of liquid CO2 shipped during the previous
          month and Prospective Buyer will make payment for the amount invoiced
          within thirty (30) days following the date of such invoice.

     10.       The term of the Contract shall be twenty (20) years. The Contract
          shall automatically renew for five (5)-year periods thereafter, unless
          either party provides twenty-four (24) months prior written notice of
          its intent to terminate. Notwithstanding any language to the contrary
          in this letter of intent,

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          Prospective Seller shall have the right to terminate the Contract in
          the event that it permanently ceases production of CO2 at Prospective
          Seller's plant.

     11.       In the event that Prospective Seller fails to supply Prospective
          Buyer with a minimum of fifteen thousand (15,000) tons of CO2 during
          any period of six (6) consecutive months during the term of the
          Contract, Prospective Buyer will have the right to terminate the
          Contract and remove the Plant.

     12.       The Contract shall become effective when it has been approved,
          executed and delivered by both Prospective Seller and Prospective
          Buyer.

     13.       Prospective Buyer agree's to pay Prospective Seller a down
          payment of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) ("Down Payment") upon
          execution of the Contract. Fifty percent (50%) of the Down Payment
          shall be applied as a credit against the Facility Fee for the first
          two (2) months of operation of Prospective Buyer's Plant.

     14.       Prospective Buyer and Prospective Seller shall remain independent
          contractors in all aspects of their activities under this letter of
          intent with no party having the authority to act as an agent for the
          other party for any purpose.

     15.       Prospective Buyer and Prospective Seller shall each bear its own
          costs and expenses in connection with the negotiation, performance or
          consummation of the Contract, unless otherwise provided therein.

All information which is not publicly available about the other party and gained
in the context of the parties' discussions or negotiations shall be keep
confidential. This information includes but is not limited to, data, designs,
documents, ideas, know-how financial, and other business information.
Prospective Buyer and Prospective Seller agree that they will not develop any
projects on their own based upon any data, facts or ideas obtained or shared
during the course of their discussions and neither party shall have any rights
to the other party's proprietary rights. Both parties shall use their best
efforts to inform appropriate personnel in their respective organizations
regarding the content of this Letter of Intent.

The term of this Letter of Intent shall commence upon the date it is signed by
both parties and it shall continue until the earlier of (i) execution of a
definitive Contract; or (ii) May 1, 2003, by which date, if a definitive
Contract has not been signed this Letter of Intent shall expire unless the
parties mutually agree in writing to extend the term. The foregoing reflects the
present intention of the parties to proceed with the transaction as described
herein and, except as otherwise provided, each party will be responsible for its
own expenses related thereto.

THIS LETTER OF INTENT DOES NOT CONTAIN ALL MATTERS UPON WHICH AGREEMENT MUST BE
REACHED IN ORDER FOR THE TRANSACTION

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DESCRIBED HEREIN TO BE CONSUMMATED, AND OTHER THAN EACH PARTY'S RESPECTIVE
PROPRIETARY RIGHTS AND CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION AS CONTAINED HEREIN, IT IS NOT
INTENDED TO BIND NOR SHALL IT BIND EITHER PARTY TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH
RESPECT TO ITS SUBJECT MATTER. A BINDING COMMITMENT WILL RESULT ONLY FROM THE
EXECUTION OF A DEFINITIVE CONTRACT BY THE PARTIES AND NEITHER PARTY WILL HAVE
ANY LIABILITY TO THE OTHER WITH RESPECT TO THE PROVISIONS HEREIN UNLESS AND
UNTIL A DEFINITIVE CONTRACT AND OTHER RELATED DOCUMENTS ARE EXECUTED BY THE
PARTIES HERETO REGARDING THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREIN.

   Please sign in the space below to confirm your agreement to the foregoing.

                                               Very truly yours,

                                               BOC GASES
                                               A Division of THE BOC GROUP, INC.

                                               By: /s/ Stan Borowiec
                                                   -----------------

                                               Name: Stan Borowiec
                                                     -------------

                                               Title: VP Mktg
                                                      -------
Agreed and Accepted:

United Wisconsin Grain Producers, LLC

By: /s/ Kevin Roche
    ---------------

Name: Kevin Roche
      -----------

Title: President
       ---------

Date: 1-21-02

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                                    EXHIBIT A

                               GAS SPECIFICATIONS

All gaseous Carbon Dioxide will meet the following minimum purity requirements
and be delivered to BOC at a minimum of 2 psig:

Assay by Orsat                                   99.0% (Volume basis)
Dew Point                                         Saturated

Excluding water, the maximum contaminants will be as follows:

<Table>
<Caption>
                                                           (Dry Basis by Volume)
                                                           ---------------------
<S>                                                            <C>
Volatile Hydrocarbons                                                       0.5%
Ammonia                                                                  25 PPM
Non Volatile Hydrocarbons                                                 5 PPM
(expressed as methane)
Inerts including Oxygen (O2), Carbon Monoxide (CO),
Hydrogen (H2), Nitrogen (N2) and Argon (Ar)                                  1%
Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S)                                                   .5 PPM
Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx)                                                2.5 PPM
Total Alcohols                                                           90 PPM
Methanol                                                                8.0 PPM
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)                                                    2.0 PPM
Carbonyl Sulfide (COS)                                                   .5 PPM
Ethyl Acetate                                                           1.5 PPM
Acetaldehyde                                                            2.0 PPM
Isobutanol                                                              1.0 PPM
Mercaptans                                                              2.0 PPM
Total Sulfur                                                            5.0 PPM
Benzene                                                        .02 PPM (20 PPB)
Other Contaminants                                                         None
Odor or Taste                                                              None
</Table>

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The term of this Letter of Intent shall commence upon the date it is signed by
both parties and it shall continue until the earlier of (i) execution of a
definitive Contract: or (ii) May 1, 2003, by which date, if a definitive
Contract has not been signed this Letter of Intent shall expire unless the
parties mutually agree in writing to extend the term. The foregoing reflects the
present intention of the parties to proceed with the transaction as described
herein and, except as otherwise provided, each party will be responsible for its
own expenses related thereto.

THIS LETTER OF INTENT DOES NOT CONTAIN ALL MATTERS UPON WHICH AGREEMENT MUST BE
REACHED IN ORDER FOR THE TRANSACTION DESCRIBED HEREIN TO BE CONSUMMATED, AND
OTHER THAN EACH PARTY'S RESPECTIVE PROPRIETARY RIGHTS AND CONFIDENTIAL
INFORMATION AS CONTAINED HEREIN. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO BIND NOR SHALL IT BIND
EITHER PARTY TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH RESPECT TO ITS SUBJECT MATTER. A
BINDING COMMITMENT WILL RESULT ONLY FROM THE EXECUTION OF A DEFINITIVE CONTRACT
BY THE PARTIES AND NEITHER PARTY WILL HAVE ANY LIABILITY TO THE OTHER WITH
RESPECT TO THE PROVISIONS HEREIN UNLESS AND UNTIL A DEFINITIVE CONTRACT AND
OTHER RELATED DOCUMENTS ARE EXECUTED BY THE PARTIES HERETO REGARDING THE
SUBJECT MATTER HEREIN.

     Please sign in the space below to confirm your agreement to the foregoing.

                                     Very truly yours,

                                     BOC GASES
                                     A Division of THE BOC GROUP, INC.

                                     By:  /s/ Stan Borowiec
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                     Name:   Stan Borowiec
                                           -------------------------------------
                                     Title:  VP Prov Mktg
                                            ------------------------------------

Agreed and Accepted:
United Wisconsin Grain Producers, LLC

By:  /s/ Kevin Roche
    -----------------------------------
Name:   Kevin Roche
      ---------------------------------
Title:  President
       --------------------------------
Date:   1-21-02
      ---------------------------------<Page>

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.10

[KEY LOGO]
RAILROAD DEVELOPMENT, LLC
DIVISION OFKEY ENGINEERING, INC.
W66 N215 Commerce Court Cedarburg, Wisconsin 53012
(262) 375-4750
(800) 645-7365
Fax (262) 375-9680

        January 27, 2003

        Mr. Kevin Roche
        United Wisconsin Grain Producers
        N3432 Highway BB                                 VIA FAX: (920) 623-4974
        Columbus, Wisconsin 53925                           AND FIRST CLASS MAIL

        Reference:     PROPOSAL FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES
                       Ethanol Plant Rail Spur Friesland,
                       Wisconsin

                                                  KEY RAILROAD DEVELOPMENT, LLC.
                                                  Proposal No. PR1109006.2

Dear Mr. Roche:

As you requested in your Request for Proposal and telephone conversations, Key
Railroad Development, LLC. (KEY Rail is pleased to submit this proposal to
provide engineering services for the above referenced project. It is our
understanding that United Wisconsin Grain Producers (UWGP) have selected a site
near Friesland, Wisconsin and that the site is adjacent to the Union Pacific
Railroad mainline. Our proposal is based on the previously submit rail yard
drawing, with the understanding that plantshifting may have occurred and yard
modifications will be required. We also understand that Fagen Engineering
(Fagen) is preparing the mass grading and drainage plans for the site.

KEY Rail has prepared our proposal in coordination with Terrin Torvik of Fagen,
so that we have a clear understanding of UWGP's and Fagen's needs in order to
provide you with a cost effective proposal.

          The following paragraphs describe our scope of services, cost
          estimate, and project schedule.

          PROJECT SCOPE OF SERVICES

          KEY Rail' proposes to perform the following tasks that are described
          in detail below:

               Phase I Grading

                         Task 1 - Subgrade Design
                         Task 2 - Drainage Plan
                         Task 3 - Project Meeting/Management

               Detail Design

                         Task 4 - Final Rail Plans and Construction Details
                         Task 5 - Bid Documents
                         Task 6 - Project Meetings/Management

<Page>

PHASE I GRADING

TASK 1 - SUBGRADE DESIGN
Based upon the previously submitted rail yard design and in coordination with
Fagen, KEY Rail will develop the final alignment and top of rail elevation. Base
upon the agreed upon drainage for the rail yard with Fagen, KEY Rail will
establish the subgrade depth to be incorporated into the mass grading package by
Fagen.

The subgrade design will include the following components:

     Track Alignment Top of Rail
     Elevation Subgrade Profile

TASK 2 - DRAINAGE PLAN
KEY Rail will assist Fagen in creating a drainage plan for the rail yard. We
have included one meeting in Task 3 to discuss this issue and review design. The
grading and drainage plans shall conform to recommendations spelled out in the
Geotechnical Exploration Report and include coordination with Union Pacific
Railroad (UPRR) to acquire the necessary site information. This will complete
the overall Phase 1 grading and drainage requirements.

TASK 3 - PROJECT MEETINGS/MANAGEMENT
KEY Rail will perform project management activities associated with the above
described tasks. These activities will include engineering support, routine
communications (i.e., monthly progress reports and telephonele-mail updates),
project scheduling, budget monitoring, and monthly invoicing. We anticipate
attending one project meeting to discuss the deliverables to be submitted and
design review as stated in Task 2 above.

DETAIL DESIGN

TASK 4 - FINAL RAIL PLANS AND CONSTRUCTION DETAILS
KEY Rail will complete final rail yard design and construction details for
inclusion with the bid document. The final design will include layout drawings,
drainage plan, construction details and required elevation drawings for the rail
yard area. The design will be developed to meet UPRR standards and coordination
will be maintained with the railroad for site information and approvals. We
anticipate attending one project meeting to discuss construction details and
sections needed for the bid package.

TASK 5 - BID DOCUMENTS
KEY Rail will prepare bid documents for the construction of the track discussed
in Task 4 above. The bid documents will include the bid information (forms and
directions), necessary construction plans and technical specifications for UWGP.
We are assuming this will be a private bid. Upon bid document completion, KEY
Rail will submit a copy to you for final review and approval. Upon receipt of
comments, KEY Rail will finalize the bid documents. It is our understanding the
Fagen will provide the bid documents for grading, storm water structures,
utility modifications and unloading/loading structures.

TASK 6 - PROJECT MEETING/MANAGEMENT
KEY Rail will perform project management activities associated with the above
described tasks. These activities will include engineering support, routine
communications (.e., monthly progress reports and telephone/e-mail updates),
project scheduling, budget monitoring, and monthly invoicing. We anticipate
attending one project meeting to discuss the deliverables to be submitted in
Tasks 4 and 5 above.

ESTIMATED PROJECT FEES

<Table>
<S>                                                            <C>
PHASE I GRADING
Task 1 - Subgrade Design                                       $  4,500

Task 2 - Drainage Plan                                         $  1,200

Task 3 - Project Meetings/Management                           $    750

DETAIL DESIGN
Task 4 - Final Rail Plans and Construction Details             $  3,000

Task 5 - Bid Documents                                         $  2,300
</Table>

<Page>

<Table>
<S>                                                            <C>
Task 6 - Project Meetings/Management                           $    750

                                             TOTAL             $ 12,500
</Table>

KEY Rail proposes to perform this work on a lump sum basis. The services to be
performed upon your acceptance of this proposal have been described in the Work
Scope section of this proposal and are based upon KEY Rail's understanding of
the project. The lump sum fee of TWELVE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS
($12,500.00) for Phase I Grading and Detail Design will be effective if this
proposal is accepted by United Wisconsin Grain Producers within 60 days of the
date of this proposal. The lump sum fee will be invoiced to you based upon KEY
Rail's estimate of the proportion of the total services actually completed at
the close of the billing period.

Proposal modifications, if any, to the scope of work following commencement of
KEY Rail's services will be discussed with you. KEY Rail understands that UWGP
may wish to retain our firm for pre-bid meeting, contractor selection, routine
project visits, and construction coordination as needed. These services are not
part of this proposal and can be discussed at a later date based on the project
needs. References have been provided with respect to our construction services
experience with other ethanol facilities in a separate memorandum (Technical
Memorandum attached). For additional services rendered, if any, but not included
in the scope of work described in this proposal, invoice amounts will be based
on the actual units used at the rates shown on the attached Standard Fee
Schedule.

GENERAL PROJECT UNDERSTANDING

KEY Rail has not included environmental or geotechnical investigation/analysis,
permitting, or funding assistance. You may request this service under a change
order, as deemed necessary.

     The design will be based on the topography provided by Fagen.

     Building structures, loading facilities, or other utility modifications are
     not part of this proposal.

     Actual services will be contingent upon cooperation of project review by
     UWGP, UPRR, and Fagen.

KEY Rail assumes that certain minor revisions and modifications of the design
will be necessary based on your comments; however, significant revisions to the
site layout or other major revisions which affect KEY Rail's design, after work
has commenced, are considered extra services. Extra services will be discussed
with you prior to our commencement KEY Rail will invoice you on a monthly basis.
Any additional revisions to submitted final plans will be authorized by change
order.

PROPOSAL AGREEMENT
KEY Rail proposes to perform this work under the attached terms and conditions.
Please indicate your acceptance of this proposal by having an authorized
representative of your firm execute one copy and return it to KEY Rail's office.
If KEY Rail is given verbal or written notification to proceed, it is mutually
understood that both of us will be contractually bound by the proposal even in
absence of written acceptance by you. In any event, a signed copy of this
proposal will need to be returned to KEY Rail before a design can be submitted.

     Client United Wisconsin Grain Producers, LLC

     Accepted By:  /s/ Kevin Roche
                  ----------------

     Title: President
            ---------

     Date: 1-30-03

     Phase I _______________ Phase II _______________

If you have any comments/questions, please call us at (262) 375-4750.

Sincerely,

KEY RAILROAD DEVELOPMENT, LLC.

/s/ Francis M. Heafy
Francis M. Heafy, R.L.S.
Project Manager

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/s/ Benedetto Guido
Benedetto Guido, P.E.
President

FMH/clh
Attachments:   General Conditions of Service
               Standard Fee Schedule

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