Foley proposes E85 fuel pumps across Turnpike

For immediate release: Monday, Sept.  18, 2006

CONTACT: Connor Patton at (614) 466-3350 or Mike Foley at (216) 390-2216

Foley proposes E85 fuel pumps across Turnpike

State Rep. Mike Foley, D-Cleveland, announced today new legislation to require each service plaza along the 241-mile Ohio Turnpike to include at least one pump offering E85, the ethanol-based fuel.

House Bill 660, which has bipartisan support, is the first bill introduced by Foley, who was appointed to the 14^th District seat of the Ohio House of Representatives on May 25.

Foley said his goal is to promote use of the environmentally-friendly fuel and make Ohio more self-sufficient when it comes to energy use. His plan would roughly double the number of E85 stations in Ohio by making it available at all 14 Turnpike service plazas by mid-2009.

An estimated 150,000 “flex-fuel” cars are already in operation in Ohio. Foley said he suspects more consumers would purchase E85 if it was available. Ohio now has 11 gas stations that serve E85; at least seven more are now planned. 

“Ethanol has tremendous potential to reduce Ohio’s dependence on foreign oil while helping the environment,” Foley said. “The more we can make ethanol available to consumers, the more we can do to stimulate demand, help Ohio’s economy and promote energy independence.”

Ohio is the nation’s eighth-largest producer of corn, and plans for six new ethanol plants are now on the drawing board. Jeff Eschmeyer, a spokesman for Ohio Farmers Union, said making E85 more available to consumers will help farmers.

“With our resources and potential, Ohio can be a leader in ethanol production and accessibility,” Eschmeyer said.   

According to an analysis by the University of Minnesota, ethanol produces 12 percent less greenhouse gas linked to global warming than gasoline. But E85 is now easier to find in neighboring states. Minnesota has 292 E85 stations and Illinois has 139. Ohio also trails Indiana by 28 stations and Michigan by 9.

New York recently took a similar step forward in expanding supply when Governor Pataki announced a plan to make E85 available at all 27 New York State Thruway service plazas.

 “State government needs to lead by example on this,” Foley said.

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