Governor Quinn Celebrates 200th Illinois E85 Station

Press Release

Encourages Use of Flex-Fuel Vehicles, Creation of Green Jobs

Governor Pat Quinn today joined with corn growers, business leaders and representatives of the American Lung Association to celebrate the state's 200th E85 station at the Green Mount Motomart in Shiloh.

"It's vitally important that we continue to bring E85 stations to all parts of Illinois," said Governor Quinn. "E85 saves money when you fill up your tank, supports Illinois agriculture and jobs, and keeps our air clean."

E85 may only be used in "Flexible Fuel Vehicles," which are regular cars, trucks or SUVs with engines that may use either E85 or regular gas. Across the country there are more than six million flex-fuel vehicles on the road today, including more than 300,000 registered in Illinois. These vehicles emit on average 40 percent fewer greenhouse gases annually.

E85 fuel takes its name from its composition of 85 percent corn-based ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. E85 fuel burns more completely than regular gas, producing fewer harmful emissions and reducing the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere. This cheaper, cleaner, all-American fuel helps to increase domestic energy production and keep taxpayer dollars out of foreign petro-producing countries.

Illinois is also one of the largest producers of ethanol in the country. In 2008 more than 500 million bushels of Illinois corn were used to make 1.4 billion gallons of biofuel.

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