Spears makes a case for ethanol vehicles in Peoria

April 4, 2006
By Billy Dennis

Several weeks ago, I commented on the efforts of Peoria City Council member Bill Spears to get the city administration to consider purchasing replacement vehicles that use ethanol-based E-85 gasoline

It also has to be noted that Spears is running for the seat now held by State Rep. Aaron Schock. Promoting Illinois agriculture and reducing the nation’s independence on foreign oil sure sound like issues of greater interest in the 92nd District than the much smaller and non-agricultural 4th Peoria City Council District.

Spears spoke to me after a recent council meeting and reminded me that Peoria is home to an Archer Daniels Midland ethanol plant, and that while not many farmers in the 4th District, Peoria as a whole is home to a lot of agriculture-related commerce. Also, ADM is looking to expand one of its facilities, and Peoria is on the list of sites being considered.

Point taken.

The council is scheduled to vote on purchasing several of these vehicles tonight, so I thought I have better mention this.

Bill Spears,Aaron Schock,ethanol,E-85,ADM

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5 Responses to “ Spears makes a case for ethanol vehicles in Peoria ”

  1. Mandy in Delavan on April 4, 2006 at 9:53 am

    And they will get the fuel for these vehicles where? Last time I checked http://www.e85fuel.com/, there wasn’t even a station in Peoria that sells E-85. The closest ones are on Airport road in Bartonville and there is also one in Pekin.

  2. Vonster on April 4, 2006 at 12:25 pm

    Bill just had another Howard Beal moment.

  3. Samer Wesley Aldroubi on April 4, 2006 at 1:53 pm

    The city of Peoria purchases and stores its own fuel. That is one of the issues. If there is a significant increase in the amount of E85 used by the city, they will have to buy a larger E85 tank (at about $50,000) than the one that is currently used. Though if there is sufficient benefit this outlay should not be an issue.

  4. PollyPeoria on April 4, 2006 at 3:22 pm

    Before gas prices reached the outer atmosphere, wasn’t there a general scientific consensus that ethanol causes cancer? Does anyone else recall that or did I just dream it? I’m not being sarcastic, I’m really asking. I seem to remember Diane Fienstein (puke) coming out against ethanol for its cancer causing properties and its tendency to pollute ground water, but honestly, I can’t be sure. It was so long ago. Does anyone else out there in blogland know? I know filling up the gas tank is both painful and costly these days, but I still think chemotherapy is likely more painful and costly.

  5. Are ethanol cars really better for the environment? They certainly aren’t good for Peoria’s budget » Peoria Pundit on April 6, 2006 at 1:58 pm

    [...] My two cents: Spears makes some good points. But Peoria isn’t in the financial condition to be using that much taxpayer money to make a statement. Technorati Tags: Bill Spears, E-85, Pat Nichting [...]