Good job GM, we need more of this. This is the future.
GM Press FOR RELEASE: 2005-05-27
GM Provides E85-Capable Chevrolet Tahoe for Use in Wisconsin
Partnership with Wisconsin Corn Promotion Board Promotes Ethanol as Alternative, Renewable Fuel
MILWAUKEE – General Motors today provided an E85-capable Chevrolet Tahoe to the Wisconsin Corn Promotion Board for use in the state as part of a campaign to promote ethanol and E85-capable vehicles in the state. The presentation was made during a family day event presided over by Governor Jim Doyle at the Landmark Services Cooperative of Cottage Grove, the site of Wisconsin’s eleventh and newest E85 fueling pump.
The Wisconsin Corn Promotion Board will showcase the E85-capable Chevrolet Tahoe by allowing Wisconsin ’s agricultural ambassador, Alice in Dairyland, to drive the vehicle to hundreds of promotional and educational events around the state over the next year.
About 20% of Wisconsin 's corn crop, or 1 out of every 5 rows of corn, is used to make ethanol. Wisconsin produces 350 million bushels of corn a year, providing the basis for millions of gallons of ethanol to be produced in the future. The three operating ethanol plants in Wisconsin contribute over 56 million dollars annually into each of their local economies. Currently 45% of the fuel sold in the state contains ethanol, with most of that being sold in the southeastern corner of the state because of clean air requirements.
"My Administration is committed to promoting economic growth and energy security in both rural and urban areas of Wisconsin by using both bio-based products and bio energy in environmentally sound ways," said Governor Doyle. "I'm pleased that GM is providing an E85 vehicle to help us increase awareness about ethanol fuel and the importance of decreasing our dependence on foreign oil. When it comes to our energy future, we should rely on the Midwest, not the Mideast."
“Ethanol production has incredible growth potential in Wisconsin, and we are excited to work to further promote E85 capable vehicles across the state,” said Secretary Rod Nilsestuen, Wisconsin Secretary of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection. “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 supporting the economy and increasing our nation’s energy independence.”
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.
GM is currently the largest producer of E85 flexible fuel vehicles in the United States, with over 1.1 million vehicles on the road and with vehicles available for sale in all 50 states. 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 Wisconsin Corn Promotion Board and the GEC on this important campaign and we commend Wisconsin on the continued growth of ethanol production in the state,” said Doug Dittrich, Regional Sales Manager, Government and Alternative Fuel Vehicle Sales for GM. “No manufacturer has done more to promote the use of ethanol than GM and 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 Wisconsin Corn Promotion Board today and tomorrow, to promote the use of E85 and the many available benefits for the environment, the economy and consumers.”
In addition to Wisconsin, GM has provided E85-capable vehicles for use in Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Wyoming. GM will also provide vehicles to the following states: Alabama, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee 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 over 300 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.
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