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For Immediate Release |
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24-State Ethanol Coalition
Announces Reorganization LINCOLN, NE - The 24-member Governors' Ethanol Coalition yesterday said the reorganization of the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition, which broadens the membership of the group, had been completed. The Vehicle Coalition promotes the availability of E85, a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. "The nation's 58 ethanol plants in 19 states are well-prepared to meet the nation's immediate needs for an oxygen replacement to MTBE in gasoline," said Iowa Governor and Coalition Chair Tom Vilsack. "The latest information indicates an estimated 1.1 billion gallons more ethanol a year could be available shortly." "In 1993, there were no public E85 fueling stations and fewer than 500 E85 cars on the nation's highways," Iowa Governor and Governors' Ethanol Coalition Chairman Tom Vilsack said. "Today, there are 1.5 million flexible fuel E85 vehicles in the nation. Another 750,000 new light trucks, minivans, and automobiles are added every year. There are now 150 public E85 fueling stations across the nation and soon there will be dozens more." The initial Board of Directors of the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition consists of a representative from the Governors' Ethanol Coalition, National Corn Growers Association, Ford Motor Company, General Motors Corporation, DaimlerChrysler Corporation, ethanol producers, state corn grower associations, biomass ethanol industry and general ethanol interests. The primary goal of the Vehicle Coalition will remain to advocate the use of E85 as a form of alternative transportation fuel. When created in 1993, the Vehicle Coalition consisted of just the National Corn Growers and Governors' Ethanol Coalition. The officers of the organization are Hal Smedley, Chairman, representing the Colorado Corn Growers Association; Jim Snyder, Vice Chairman, representing DaimlerChrysler Corporation; Larry Bean, Treasurer, representing the Governors' Ethanol Coalition; and Carolyn Gray, Secretary, representing Ford Motor Company. In his remarks at the National Conference on Ethanol Policy and Marketing in San Francisco, Governor Vilsack said the study demonstrates the impact a domestic ethanol industry can have throughout the nation. "When ethanol production reaches 3.5 billion gallons annually," Vilsack said, "47,800 new jobs will have been created, many in areas where job creation is difficult." According to the study non-ethanol production industries will benefit: 2,300 new jobs in transportation, 1,300 new jobs in construction, 3,200 new jobs in retail and 11,000 new jobs in service industries. "These more than 47,000 jobs scattered across the nation will more than replace the 25,000 jobs being lost by the MTBE industry in Texas," Vilsack said. "E85 is a renewable transportation fuel that can reduce our nation's dependence on imported petroleum, provide domestic employment opportunities, and assist in reducing harmful vehicle emissions," Nebraska Governor and Governors' Ethanol Coalition Vice Chairman Mike Johanns said. "E85 is also the only transportation fuel that reduces the formation of greenhouse gases." According to Governor Vilsack, few E85 flexible fuel vehicles are being fueled with high percentage ethanol blends. One of the chief goals of the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition will be to increase the availability of convenient pumps so high blend ethanol is readily accessible to E85 vehicle owners. For more information, contact the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition at 573-635-8445 or on the web at www.e85fuel.com |