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July
13, 2005
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The announcement is part of a campaign by GM and the Governors' Ethanol Coalition (GEC), a bipartisan group of governors devoted to the promotion and increased use of ethanol. This collaborative effort is designed to increase awareness of ethanol and flexible fuel vehicles, and to promote the increased use of E85 as a renewable, alternative transportation fuel that is able to meet the demands of today's drivers. "W e are excited to work with General Motors to further promote E85-capable vehicles across Iowa ," said Gov. Vilsack . "We appreciate GM's support of cleaner-burning alternative fuels like ethanol and its promotion of E85, which helps reduce tailpipe and greenhouse gas emissions, while creating opportunities in our state's economy and increasing our nation's energy independence." GM has made a major commitment to E85 flexible fuel vehicles in the United States, with more than one million of these vehicles on the road today. GM approved the use of 10 percent ethanol blended gasoline in all GM products more than 20 years ago, and produces almost five million E10 capable vehicles annually. "We are delighted to work with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the GEC on this important campaign and we commend Iowa on its support of ethanol production," said Ed Wallace, regional director, government relations, General Motors. "Today's announcement is the latest demonstration of our commitment to extend GM's leadership in manufacturing ethanol-capable vehicles. GM will continue to work with organizations like the Iowa Department of Natural Resources today and tomorrow, to promote the use of E85 and the many available benefits for the environment, the economy and consumers." In addition to Iowa, GM has provided E85-capable vehicles for use in Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Wisconsin and Wyoming. GM will also provide vehicles to the following states: Alabama, Colorado, Idaho, Kentucky, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina and Texas. Ethanol delivers similar performance as regular gasoline and is a renewable, domestically produced fuel that reduces sulfur and aromatic hydrocarbons for improved exhaust emissions performance. E85, a blend of 85 percent ethyl alcohol and 15 percent gasoline, is produced from the starch in agricultural products, primarily domestically produced corn. Growing corn actually removes CO2 from the atmosphere so that the total effect of using ethanol made from corn is a significant reduction in greenhouse emissions when compared to the use of petroleum-based fuels. GM's E85 vehicles are capable of operating on either gasoline or 85 percent ethanol without any additional modifications, aftermarket conversions, or cumbersome switches for vehicle users. Currently, there are almost 400 public E85 fueling sites in operation across the nation. GM has joined a growing partnership of states and organizations that support the increased use of ethanol that includes the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition, the Renewable Fuels Association, the National Corn Growers Association and the Clean Fuels Development Coalition. (July 06, 2005)
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