The Governor Continues to Implement Energy Independence Plan by Announcing Another $500,000 is Available to Promote More Growth of Ethanol Across Illinois as a Way to Lessen Our Addiction to Imported Oil

CHICAGO – As he continues to roll out his comprehensive Energy Independence Plan, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today announced that 26 new E-85 stations have recently or will come online soon thanks to more than $111,000 in grants from his E-85 Clean Energy Infrastructure Program.  The total number of E-85 stations now in Illinois has grown dramatically from 14 in 2004 to approximately 130 stations, which has greatly exceeded the program’s goal of 100 E-85 stations by the end of 2006.  The Governor also announced that an additional $500,000 is now available to establish even more E-85 facilities at retail gasoline outlets across the state.  E-85 is a clean burning, renewable fuel composed of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline.  Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) Director Jack Lavin spoke about the announcement today at a Springfield Qik-n-EZ, who is now selling E-85 fuel at all 11 of its stations with support from this program.

“If we invest now in ethanol and other biofuels, within ten years, we’ll be able to produce enough energy from our own natural resources to cut our dependence on foreign energy in half.  That means billions of our hard-earned dollars will stay here at home, in our economy creating more jobs, rather than leaving Illinois forever.  We have the resources.  We have the technology.  We have the expertise.  And if we start today, we can solve this problem in the next ten years.  No other state can say that.  And the federal government hasn’t even conceived of that yet.  But we can do it here in Illinois, and helping more gas stations sell E-85 is going to help us do just that,” Gov. Blagojevich said.

Communities where new E-85 stations have begun or will be offering the fuel soon and are receiving grants include Aledo, Frankfort (4 stations), Freeport, Homer Glen (3 stations), Kankakee, Loves Park, Mateno, McHenry, Mokena (2 stations), Monee, New Lenox, Orland Hills, Oswego, Naperville, Palos Park, Romeoville, Springfield, Stockton, Tremont and Willow Springs.

The $500,000 in new funding comes through a continued partnership between the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation.

“The Foundation is very pleased to continue this partnership with Gov. Blagojevich and DCEO so that it can help fuel retailers make E-85 more widely available to Illinois consumers.  E-85 produces much less CO2 pollution, the leading global warming gas, and simultaneously produces very real economic development across rural Illinois,” said Foundation Chairman Phil Novak.
     
Since first tackling the issue of how to expand the availability of E-85 in Illinois in 2003, Gov. Blagojevich has established a comprehensive mix of programs and financial tools to support the alternative fuel.  In 2003, he signed into law a complete state sales tax exemption for E-85 (and for biodiesel blends of 11 percent or higher, known as “B11”), and Illinois remains the only state in the nation with this complete state sales tax exemption.  Consumers have saved more than $200 million as a result of these exemptions on B-11 and E-85 since 2003. 

“I am delighted that the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation has answered our call for further support of E-85 infrastructure in Illinois,” said State Senator Deanna Demuzio (D-Carlinville).  “Working together, we can create new markets for farmers and dramatically expand consumer access to E-85.”

Per new guidelines announced today, DCEO’s E-85 Infrastructure Program will provide up to 50 percent of the total cost for converting an existing facility (maximum grant of $3,000 per site) to E-85 operation, or up to 30 percent for the construction of a new refueling facility (maximum grant of up to $30,000 per facility).  Individuals or companies operating retail gasoline facilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

“Gasoline and oil prices are largely the result of national and international markets, but if the rest of the country and the world were as serious about the development of renewable fuels as Gov. Blagojevich, we would all be better off,” said Jack Lavin, Director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.  “We are pleased to offer these critical grants to gas stations across Illinois that want to sell E-85.”

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. 

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.

On its travel Web site, www.gettingaroundillinois.com, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) is now displaying all E-85 and biodiesel locations around the state.  Additionally, IDOT is developing new pamphlets for rest areas and Interstate signs alerting drivers to exits with E-85 and biodiesel gas station locations.  Users can zoom in to find exact locations of E-85 and biodiesel stations and are even able to get directions to the station.
 
This program expansion follows the Governor’s recent announcement of his energy independence plan to replace 50 percent of the state’s current supply of imported oil with renewable homegrown biofuels like ethanol and biodiesel.  The Governor proposes investing $100 million over the next 5 years to build up to 20 new ethanol plants across Illinois.  The additional ethanol production would generate an estimated $1.7 billion in business investment.  The Governor also proposes investing an additional $100 million over the next ten years to build four plants in downstate Illinois using new technology to create ethanol made from plant waste
materials like corn husks and wood pulp – or “cellulosic ethanol.”  This means boosting the state’s annual ethanol production by more than 200 percent and meeting 50 percent of gasoline needs by 2017.  And, the Governor’s plan would invest $25 million to help build five new biodiesel plants, increasing the state’s
production by 200 percent to 400 million gallons per year or the equivalent to 25 percent of the state’s annual diesel fuel needs by 2017.  This additional biodiesel production will generate another $225 million in business investment in Illinois. 
      
As Illinois produces more biofuels, another major goal of the Governor’s energy plan is to make sure every gas station in Illinois offers 85 percent ethanol fuel (E-85) by 2017.  To reach this goal, the Governor proposes investing $30 million over the next 5 years to add 900 more E-85 pumps statewide by 2010, meaning 20 percent of Illinois gas stations will offer E-85.  Illinois will also work with automakers to offer more flexible fuel vehicles to Illinois drivers, by providing up to $25 million incentives to produce more vehicles that can run on E-85.  The state will also increase public awareness about E-85 and promote use by local governments and private fleets.  This plan would create almost 20,000 construction jobs and 10,000 permanent jobs. 

NEW E-85 STATIONS ACROSS ILLINOIS

County	City	Name	Address
Cook	Orland Hills	Gas City	16707 S. LaGrange Road
Cook	Palos Park	Gas City	13059 S. LaGrange Road
Cook	Willow Springs	Gas City	8424 Willow Springs Road
DuPage	Naperville	Gas City	3004 Reflection Drive
Jo Daviess	Stockton	Stockton Travel Center	600 East North Avenue
Kendall	Oswego	Gas City	4032 Route 34
Kankakee	Kankakee	Gas City	2925 Riverstone Parkway
Kankakee	Mateno	Gas City	9051 N. Route 45/52
McHenry	McHenry	Boncosky Oil	4019 Main Street
Mercer	Aledo	Blick & Blick Oil	203 South East 5th Avenue
Sangamon	Springfield	Tri-Star (Mobil)	1801 North Grand Avenue East
Stephenson	Freeport	Crestwood Oil	1641 Sleezer Home Road
Tazewell	Tremont	Tremont Oil Company	201 E. Pearl Street
Will	Frankfort	Gas City	22310 S. LaGrange Road
Will	Frankfort	Gas City	855 S. Center Road
Will	Frankfort	Gas City	11151 W. Lincoln Highway
Will	Frankfort	Gas City	19730 S. Harlem Avenue
Will	Homer	Glen Gas City	12502 W. 143rd Street
Will	Homer Glen	[Col 3 Row 20]Gas City	15060 S. Bell Road
Will	Homer Glen	Gas City	15551 W. 143rd Street
Will	Mokena	Gas City	19855 S. LaGrange Road
Will	Mokena	Gas City	18701 Wolf Road
Will	Monee	Gas City	25515 S. Route 45
Will	New Lenox	Gas City	939 S. Cedar Road
Will	Romeoville	Gas City	1300 W. Normantown Road
Winnebago	Loves Park	Grand Prix #11	7997 Forest Hills Road