Jefferson City, MO - As part of the national efforts to promote the use and sale of 85% ethanol (E85), the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition (NEVC) has been assisting Arizona elected and regulatory officials in modifying the state motor fuel laws to allow for the sale of E85. In the early 1990's, the state adopted rules that restricted the forms of transportation fuels that were eligible to be sold in Maricopa County, the greater Phoenix area. This action was part of the state and local efforts to reduce air pollution from motor vehicles. Unfortunately, these regulations prevented the sale of some forms of alternative transportation fuels such as E85.

Phil Lampert, Executive Director of the NEVC stated, "NEVC staff has been working with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality for the past two years providing technical information, emission testing materials, and general background on the use of E85. Arizona was an early leader in the use of compressed natural gas as a motor fuel, but had not been familiar with E85. We are very pleased that state officials, both elected and appointed, now recognize the positive attributes of E85 and have voted to change the current laws to allow the sale of E85."

Curtis Donaldson, Chairman of the NEVC added, "It's not enough to solely concentrate on the sale of E85 in the 'corn belt'. For E85 to be integrated into the entire nation's transportation fuel system, it must be a fifty state fuel. Clearly this action by the Arizona State Senate and prior approval by the House, will open another key market to this superior form of alternative transportation fuel. The NEVC participation was critical in opening this excellent new market."

An effort to permit the use of an environmentally friendly fuel in Maricopa County won the support of the state Senate on Tuesday and is likely to become law.

The Senate voted 24-5 to pass House Bill 2590, which classifies ethanol blend E85 as a motor fuel and permits it to be used in Maricopa County.

A version of 2590 passed the House in February. The bill now moves back to the House to reconcile the two versions.

E85 contains 15 percent gasoline and 85 percent ethanol, an alcohol-based alternative fuel made by fermenting and distilling starch crops. The fuel burns cleaner than traditional gasoline.

Maricopa County's poor air quality has led to restrictions on the motor fuels that can be sold. But the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality endorsed the E85 blend.

Under the bill, vehicles that run on E85 would count toward requirements that state, school and city fleets contain alternative-fuel vehicles.

Vehicles that take E85 include the Dodge Durango, Ford Taurus, Chevrolet Impala, Isuzu Hombre, Mercedes Benz C240, Mercury Grand Marquis and Nissan Titan.