Lung Association, Ethanol, and Enterprise Partner to Improve Air Quality

Mar 08, 2011  |  ICMB

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                  Contact: Angela Tin, (217) 787-5864

 

             

SPRINGFIELD, Ill.--The American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest (ALAUM) expanded its efforts to improve air quality recently through a unique initiative with Enterprise Rent-A-Car that rewards Enterprise customers for refueling their rented vehicle with E85.

Funded by corn farmers in Illinois, the ALAUM program provides $10 coupons for the purchase of E85 for all Enterprise customers renting Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFVs). The FFVs in the Enterprise fleet have yellow gas caps. The $10 coupon will be hanging on the rear-view mirror of the vehicle when the customer starts their rental agreement.

Enterprise locations in Springfield, Quincy and Jacksonville will issue the coupons through March of this year, encouraging the use of E85, a homegrown, renewable, clean energy that improves the air quality. So far, more than 450 coupons have been received by customers renting FFVs since December of 2010.

E85 is a gasoline blended fuel comprised of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent conventional gasoline. It burns cleaner, reduces greenhouse gases and is less volatile than traditional gasoline. For those three reasons, ALAUM has been working to promote its use for several years now. “Our goal is to encourage the advancement of new technology and to educate the consumer on ways to reduce harmful pollutants,” said Angela Tin, VP of Environmental Health for the ALAUM.

The corn checkoff, a voluntary program supported by the state’s corn farmers, works to educate the public about ethanol and other corn derived products. The checkoff is administered by a farmer-elected board, the Illinois Corn Marketing Board (ICMB).

“Working with American Lung and Enterprise is just that kind of consumer oriented programming that we’re looking for with the corn checkoff program,” said Scott Stirling, a corn farmer from Martinton, IL, and ICMB chairman. “Sometimes just getting someone introduced to a product, like E85, is all it takes to get them to make that choice at home with their own vehicles if they’re FFVs. This coupon program does that.”

Customers interested in the program may call any of the Enterprise locations in Springfield, Quincy or Jacksonville to request a FFV-rental and receive a coupon.

For more information on E85, participating gas stations or to request a coupon for your personal FFV, visit www.E85coupon.com.  

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