SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Looking for E85 fuel in Illinois just got easier. The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) is sporting a map on its website displaying all E85 and biodiesel retail locations around the state.

Those clicking onto www.gettingaroundillinois.com can zoom in to find exact locations of E85 and biodiesel stations and get driving directions.

To ensure drivers arriving or traveling through the state have access to the map, IDOT is developing pamphlets for rest areas and Interstate signs starting next year. Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich supports this measure to reduce Illinois’ dependence on foreign oil.

“We’re leading the nation in expanding the market for ethanol, using it in our state vehicles and in getting stations throughout Illinois to sell it,” he said. “But one of the problems for drivers has been finding locations to buy E85 and biodiesel.”

The map is one solution to this problem.

“With just a few simple steps, I think we can go a long way in getting the word out on E85 and biodiesel,” Blagojevich said. “We’ve included all the stations on our easy-to-use state travel website. We’ll be posting new signs on the interstate showing motorists where to exit for an E85 or biodiesel station, and we’re developing new pamphlets for our rest areas and tourist centers that will show where E85 and biodiesel stations are in Illinois.”

IDOT will begin putting signage up this fall along the Interstate and at off-ramps that identify the exits with stations that sell E85 and biodiesel.

“We’re bringing together these things using existing resources so the cost to taxpayers will be minimized,” said IDOT Secretary Timothy W. Martin. “Getting better use of our homegrown fuels is a win-win situation for Illinois. We improve our environment and our economy; it just makes sense.”

In April 2005, Blagojevich directed state agencies to use E85 and biodiesel. Since then, the government has used more than 1 million gallons of renewable fuels.

Last month, the governor unveiled a comprehensive long-term energy plan to replace Illinois’ dependence on foreign oil with homegrown alternatives.

The plan hopes to stabilize energy prices, give Illinois farmers new markets for their crops, and create 30,000 new jobs. Blagojevich’s plan sets a goal of replacing 50 percent of Illinois’ energy supply with renewable fuels by 2017. Illinois would be the first state to reach this level of energy independence.

The energy plan also provides incentives to help triple Illinois’ ethanol production and other biofuels, and build up to 10 new coal gasification plants to convert Illinois coal into natural gas, diesel fuel and electricity.

The plan also includes construction of a pipeline from central to southeastern Illinois to transport carbon dioxide produced by new energy plants to where it can be pumped underground to extract more oil and gas that sits underground.

Trapping carbon dioxide underground will permanently prevent this greenhouse gas from being emitted into the atmosphere. The plan calls for a dramatic expansion of renewable energy production as well as significant reductions in energy use through investments in energy efficiency and conservation.

Specifically, the governor’s plan will:

•Invest in renewable biofuels by providing financial incentives to build up to 20 new ethanol plants and five new biodiesel plants.

•Increase the number of gas stations that sell biofuels, so that all gas stations offer E85 by 2017 and help the auto industry to produce more and better flexible-fuels vehicles.

•Invest $775 million to help build up to 10 new coal gasification plants that use Illinois coal to meet 25 percent of Illinois’ diesel fuel needs, 25 percent of natural gas needs and 10 percent of electricity needs by 2017.

This farm news was published in the Sept. 27, 2006 issue of Farm World, serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee.