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Obama applauds increase in availability of E85 ethanol fuel in Southern Illinois

Friday, July 22, 2005

MT. CARMEL (IL) DAILY REPUBLICAN REGISTER

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) Tuesday praised the Metropolis Citgo station for increasing the availability of E85 ethanol fuel in southern Illinois. Metropolis Citgo is only the 8th station south of I-64 to offer E85 fuel.

E85 is a clean-burning blended fuel made from corn that contains 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. E85, a renewable fuel, can be used in Flexible Fuel Vehicles (FFVs), which can also use conventional gasoline when E85 isn't available.

"Our energy future should lie in Illinois fields of corn, not foreign fields of oil," said Obama.

"So I'm pleased to hear that folks in Metropolis will now have another option at the pump. Increasing the production and availability of home-grown alternative fuels is an important step in showing that the United States Senate is serious about reducing our country's dangerous dependence on imported oil."

In the Senate, Obama authored legislation designed to increase the availability and demand for E85 by increasing the number of fueling stations where it is sold. The legislation would provide a 50 percent tax credit for the cost of building a new E85 vehicle refueling facility, up to $30,000.

The legislation has been included as part of both the Transportation bill and the Energy bill.

"Right now, gas in southern Illinois is about $2.26 per gallon, while E85 sells for about 36 cents less," said Obama.

"If my legislation to provide a tax credit for the production of E85 fueling stations becomes law, more gas stations in southern Illinois will follow Metropolis Citgo's lead and provide E85, offering some much-needed relief from the high gas prices at the pump."

There are currently 3.5 million FFVs on the road throughout the United States and 100,000 in Illinois. Vehicle manufacturers are expected to expand production of FFVs when more fueling stations offer E85.

In Illinois, there are approximately 62 gas stations that have the capability of offering E85.