DECATUR – Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today announced that thirty new E-85 stations have recently come online since March of this year thanks to grants from his E-85 Clean Energy Infrastructure Program. The total number of E-85 stations now in Illinois has quadrupled from 14 just over a year ago to nearly 70 stations today. E-85, an advanced hybrid of ethanol that is 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, has been 15 to 50 cents cheaper than regular gasoline through the past year, which could mean savings for drivers between three and ten dollars every time they fill their car with gas.

To help bring the thirty new stations online, Gov. Blagojevich announced more than $50,000 in E-85 Clean Energy Infrastructure Development grants, and that an additional $450,000 is still available for stations that convert to or open gas pumps that offer E-85. Gov. Blagojevich voiced his support for E-85’s continued growth in Illinois alongside agricultural, business and community leaders.

"We used to just ask farmers to provide food and fiber. But today, we must ask much more. Since agriculture plays a growing role in our state’s economy, we are relying on them for food, fiber and fuel. This partnership with thirty new stations makes less expensive fuel available to drivers and can make a big difference for consumers, the environment and farmers across Illinois," Gov. Blagojevich said.

Communities where new E-85 stations have recently begun offering the fuel and are receiving grants include Albion, Bartonville, Bloomington, Centralia, Cisne, Clay City, Decatur, Eldorado, Fairfield, Frankfort, Galatia, Harrisburg, Lincoln, Lombard, Mahomet, Marion, McLeansboro, Morrison, Normal, Pana, Peru, Pontiac, Roseville, Salem, Springfield, Vandalia and West Frankfort.

Ethanol and E-85 play an increasing role in America today by reducing our dependence on oil imported from unstable regions of the world, reducing consumer energy costs, cleaning the air, and supporting rural economic development by creating jobs and increasing grain prices. Ethanol currently accounts for about 3 percent of the gasoline sold in America; imported oil however now accounts for more than 25 percent of the national trade deficit.

The E-85 Clean Infrastructure Development Program is made possible by a partnership between the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation. Through this partnership, announced by Gov. Blagojevich in March, the Foundation is providing DCEO with $500,000 to support new E-85 stations in Illinois, which in turn provides up to 50 percent of the total cost for converting an existing gas station (maximum grant of $2,000 per site) to E-85, or 50 percent of the total cost for the construction of a new E-85 refueling facility (maximum grant of up to $40,000 per facility). Additional stations will be coming online as the program continues with a goal of 100 stations in Illinois by the end of 2006. View a map of existing stations that offer E-85 by visiting www.IllinoisGreenFleets.org.

"We’ve seen amazing growth in the number of stations offering E-85 and, by partnering with Gov. Blagojevich and the state, we’ve helped quadruple the number of stations across Illinois. E-85 has many benefits, including reduced carbon dioxide emissions, but the bottom line is that E-85 has very real economic benefits for our state," said Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation Chairman Phil Novak.

"Our nation needs to significantly increase our utilization of renewable fuels, and Gov. Blagojevich’s E-85 infrastructure program has been a great success in expanding the ability of people across Illinois to purchase E-85. E-85 supports farmers and is a great option for consumers, and we are very pleased with our partnership with the Governor in expanding the number of E-85 stations across the state," said Roger Sy, President of the Illinois Corn Growers Association.

E-85 can be used in "Flexible Fuel Vehicles" (FFVs) that can run on gasoline, E-85, or any combination of the two. There are currently more than four million FFVs on the road today nationwide, 100,000 of which are in Illinois. Widely available models include the 5.3 liter Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra Pickup trucks, 3.0 liter Ford Taurus sedans, and 4.0 liter Explorers, as well as 3.3 liter Chrysler Caravan Minivans. A complete list of models is available at www.e85fuel.com. Gas retailers can learn about the E-85 Clean Energy Infrastructure Program guidelines by visiting www.commerce.state.il.us or by calling 217/785.5082.

"I’m very pleased to salute the agriculture community and everybody in the ethanol industry for doing all that they do to make this clean, American fuel available across Illinois and across the country. Gov. Blagojevich is leading the way to expanding the availability of ethanol and E-85 available to working families," said DCEO Director Jack Lavin.

The announcement by Gov. Blagojevich today is consistent with numerous other steps he has taken over the last two years to advance the ethanol and biodiesel industry in Illinois, including:

Enacting legislation in 2003 to eliminate the state sales tax on E-85, allowing the fuel to retail for 10 to 15 cents per gallon cheaper than regular unleaded gasoline.

Enacting legislation this year to require school districts and local governments across the state to use biodiesel blends of at least 2 percent for their government fleets.

Announcing more than $1.5 million in Opportunity Returns funding for the National Corn to Ethanol Research Center at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville to support the center’s role in technological innovation to continue to reduce the costs of ethanol production;

Providing $4.8 million to the Lincolnland Agri-Energy Ethanol plant in Robinson, to help the plant succeed in closing on private financing for the project - the plant is now producing more than 40 million gallons of ethanol per year;

Chairing the Governors’ Ethanol Coalition in 2004 and successfully encouraging that body to adopt a sweeping package of support for both traditional sources of ethanol (like corn), as well as new biomass sources of ethanol. Most of these recommendations were recently signed into law as part of the Energy Bill, including the 7.5 billion gallon by 2012 Renewable Fuels Standard. The report by the Governors Ethanol Coalition is available on the Coalition’s website at www.ethanol-gec.org.

*New E-85 Stations in Illinois Utilizing the DCEO E-85 Clean Infrastructure Program

**New E-85 Stations previously funded through DCEO cooperative grant with the Illinois Corn Growers Association

Gov. Blagojevich's Opportunity Returns regional economic development strategy is the most aggressive, comprehensive approach to creating jobs in Illinois' history. Since a one-size-fits-all approach to economic development just doesn't work, the Governor has divided the state into 10 regions – each with a regional team that is empowered and expected to rapidly respond to opportunities and challenges. Opportunity Returns is about tangible, specific actions to make each region more accessible, more marketable, more entrepreneurial and more attractive to businesses. It is about upgrading the skills of the local workforce, increasing the access to capital, opening new markets, improving infrastructure, and creating and retaining jobs. Opportunity Returns is about successfully partnering with companies and communities, both large and small, to help all of Illinois reach its economic potential.