30 March 2006

Governors’ Ethanol Coalition Expands Promotion of E85 and Flexible Fuel Vehicles

Topeka, KS - Governor Kathleen Sebelius today announced the expansion of a nationwide program with General Motors and the Governors’ Ethanol Coalition to promote the use of E85 and flexible fuel vehicles.

Sebelius chairs the 32-member Governors’ Ethanol Coalition and has worked with other governors and automakers to increase awareness of the role that flexible fuel vehicles can play in creating demand for renewable ethanol.

“Ethanol can play an important role in supplementing our transportation fuel supply across the country. The use of E85 is an excellent addition to our increased use of ethanol blended fuel in the U.S.,” said Sebelius.

The announcement by Sebelius came as Lt. Governor David Dewhurst, representing fellow coalition member, Texas Governor Rick Perry, joined General Motors in announcing the continuation of the flexible fuel vehicle demonstration program in Austin, Tex. Dewhurst joined General Motors officials at a ceremony to unveil a new promotional design on the 2007 flexible fuel vehicles that will be used to promote E85-capable vehicles.

Kansas was among the first GEC member states to receive the loan of a promotional E85 vehicle when the program was launched in 2005.

“On behalf of the GEC members, I want to commend GM for extending this cooperative partnership to promote E85 and flexible fuel vehicles. We’ve seen that ethanol can play an important role in reducing reliance on imported fuels while creating economic benefits that are vital to the U.S. Expanding the FFV fleet and the E85 infrastructure will further reduce petroleum use while helping to improve the environment,” said Sebelius.

The Flexible Fuel Vehicle /E85 demonstration program was initiated as a partnership between GEC states and General Motors more than a year ago. The program is designed to increase awareness about flexible fuel vehicles and to promote the use of E85. The expanded program will include a new promotional design on the 2007 vehicles provided by GM. Delivery of the new FFVs will begin with Texas and Kansas. Nearly 30 states will receive vehicles under the program beginning today. Nationally, there are almost five million FFVs on the road today. GM alone expects to sell more than 400,000 additional FFVs in 2006.

The Governors’ Ethanol Coalition was established in 1991 as a bi-partisan organization to promote the production and use of renewable ethanol through advancement of public policies that focus on domestic, renewable transportation fuels.