FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                            CONTACT: Lindsay Mitchell

                                                                        (309) 557-3257

BLOOMINGTON, Ill.—Illinois corn farmers applaud the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for their newly released E15 label, explaining that it is a common sense approach to educating consumers instead of scaring them.

According to James Reed, Illinois corn farmer from Monticello and President of the Illinois Corn Growers Association, the label will help consumers decide whether or not they can realize the financial savings of the 15 percent blend of ethanol as they fuel up at the pump.

“The E15 label released today shows that the U.S. EPA really listened to the comments of U.S. farmers and ethanol producers as they created the label,” said Reed.  “It is a label that informs instead of instills fear.  We appreciate the U.S. EPA’s participation in the public comment process, weighing the comments of all interested parties and creating a label that ultimately benefits our country as a whole.”

“We are also looking forward to getting the 15 percent blend of ethanol into the marketplace where consumers can really see the price benefits of ethanol blended gasoline.  We are expected to export 600 – 800 million gallons of ethanol next year from the U.S.  Why not keep that domestically produced fuel in our country to lesson our oil imports and put more money in consumer wallets?” said Reed.

Although Illinois Corn is supportive of the progress made with the release of this label, farmers question the arbitrary cut-off date for E15 use and do not believe E15 will harm older vehicles or other gasoline motors as referenced in this label.