Blogger's note: The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity wants to encourage E15 sales, and they want Illinois taxpayers to fund it by providing subsidies to gas stations that sell E15. Anyone who has experienced the rust that ethanol-blended fuel leaves behind in the fuel system of a lawnmower or snowblower or pre-2000 car after E10 has absorbed six months of moisture knows the effects of e-fuels. Illinois residents who don't want to pay for this experiment in destruction, and don't want to wastefully dispose corroded fuel system parts damaged by e-fuels in landfills, will want to read on....

SEMA ACTION NETWORK LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Illinois Bill to Encourage E15 Sales to be Considered by

House Committee on Mar. 1

On Thurs., Mar. 1, 2012, the Illinois House Revenue & Finance Committee will consider legislation (H.B. 5895) allowing the state’s Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to provide information to gas stations encouraging the stations to offer E15 as an option for customers. The bill also allows the Department to provide information to gas stations on any financial assistance that may be available to subsidize the cost of providing E15 blended fuel to consumers. H.B. 5895 was introduced despite the fact that a bill is moving through the U.S. House of Representatives which would require the National Academy of Sciences to further analyze the effects of E15 on engines and other components before the EPA can permit its sale.

We Urge You to Contact Members of the Illinois House Revenue & Finance Committee (List Below) Immediately to Oppose H.B. 5895

H.B. 5895 ignores the fact that ethanol increases water formation which can then create formic acid and corrode metals, plastics and rubber, especially over a period of time when the vehicle is not used. This can lead to engine/parts failures and, potentially, safety hazards. Ethanol also burns hotter and can cause some engines to stall, misfire and overheat. Current high performance specialty parts along with the pre-2001 cars and parts may be most susceptible to corrosion and overheating.

H.B. 5895 ignores the fact that the life span of these vehicles and equipment can be dramatically reduced with the wrong fuel and the owners could be confronted with break downs. Anti-corrosion additives are available for each purchase of gasoline but can become expensive and burdensome on consumers.

H.B. 5895 makes no plan to ensure that misfueling does not occur or any plan to guarantee gasoline without ethanol will be available for older vehicles.
DON’T DELAY! Please contact the Illinois House Revenue & Finance Committee members to request opposition to H.B. 5895. Please e-mail a copy of your letter to Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org. Also, please forward this Alert to your fellow car enthusiasts. Urge them to join the SAN and help defend the hobby! Thank you for your assistance.

Illinois House Revenue & Finance Committee

To e-mail all Committee members, copy and paste the email address block below:

repjohnbradley@mychoice.net; turneral@ilga.gov; repharris@yahoo.com; representativesandycole@comcast.net; repcurrie@sbcglobal.net; repgaffney@gmail.com; patti76th@ivnet.com; ILhouse51@sbcglobal.net; michaelz@ilga.gov

Representative John E. Bradley (Chair)
Phone: (217) 782-1051
Email: repjohnbradley@mychoice.net

Representative Arthur Turner (Vice Chair)
Phone: (217) 782-8116
Email: turneral@ilga.gov

Representative David Harris
Phone: (217) 782-3739
Email: repharris@yahoo.com

Representative Sandy Cole
Phone: (217) 782-7320
Email: representativesandycole@comcast.net

Representative Barbara Flynn Currie
Phone: (217) 782-8121
Email: repcurrie@sbcglobal.net

Representative Kent Gaffney
Phone: (217) 782-1517
Email: repgaffney@gmail.com

Representative Frank J. Mautino
Phone: (217) 782-0140
Email: patti76th@ivnet.com

Representative Ed Sullivan
Phone: (217) 782-3696
Email: ILhouse51@sbcglobal.net

Representative Michael J. Zalewski
Phone: (217) 782-5280
Email: michaelz@ilga.gov