IL Corn Advocates Ethanol Incentive Before State Senate Revenue Committee

IL Corn Director of Public Policy Brad Stotler testified last week in Springfield before the Senate Revenue Committee on SB 1869, legislation sponsored by Sen. Pat Joyce to incentivize fuels with higher blends of ethanol in Illinois. During the subject matter committee hearing, IL Corn Growers Association (ICGA) advocated for reducing the sales tax on fuels that have higher than 10 percent blends of ethanol.

The legislation lowers the sales tax on E15 by 10 percent, mid-range blends by 20 percent; and extends the current 100 percent sales tax reduction on majority blend ethanol fuel known as E-85. The existing E-85 incentive is scheduled to sunset on December 31, 2023. With the proposal, all three ethanol-blend tax incentives outlined in SB 1869 sunset on December 31, 2030.

“Promoting these fuels in the marketplace will lower carbon emissions, reduce the price of fuel at the pump for consumers and supports our local economy here in Illinois,” said Stotler. The bill was supported by ICGA, Illinois Renewable Fuels Association, IL Farm Bureau, and the Illinois Lung Association, among others. Next steps will be the inclusion of SB 1869 into a larger Revenue Omnibus bill package, which will need to be agreed upon by the legislature and sent to the governor for final consideration.

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