HB3248eng 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB3248 Engrossed LRB097 06725 HLH 46813 b

AN ACT concerning State government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Illinois Renewable Fuels Development Program Act is amended by adding Section 35 as follows:

(20 ILCS 689/35 new)

Sec. 35. Increased Ethanol Content Encouragement Program.

(a) The General Assembly finds:

(1) Due to the increasing cost of motor fuel, gas stations in the State should be encouraged to offer motor fuel blended with 15% ethanol. Increasing the percentage of ethanol in motor fuel will help to reduce the cost of motor fuel.

(2) Existing studies show that some higher percentage blends of ethanol may be used in motor vehicles without requiring any modification to the vehicle.

(3) Motor vehicle manufacturers are encouraged to continue to expand production of flexible-fuel vehicles. Flexible-fuel vehicles are capable of using any blend of ethanol fuel up to 85% ethanol.

(4) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced E15 motor fuel blends to be safe for use in all cars and pickup trucks produced in 2001 and later. With this announcement, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved the use of E15 for 62% of vehicles on the road today.

(b) The Department may provide information to gas stations in the State encouraging the gas stations to offer E15 blended fuel as an option for customers. The Department may provide gas stations in the State with information on any financial assistance that may be available to subsidize the cost of providing E15 blended fuel to consumers.

Section 10. The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is amended by adding Section 605-1010 as follows:

(20 ILCS 605/605-1010 new)

Sec. 605-1010. Department authorized to provide information to gas stations. The Department is authorized to provide information to gas stations in the State encouraging the gas stations to offer E15 blended fuel as an option for customers. The Department may provide gas stations in the State with information on any financial assistance that may be available to subsidize the cost of providing E15 blended fuel to consumers.