Illinois Green Fuels and Illinois Green Dealers to join Green Fleets

The Illinois EPA is launching two new programs to complement its Illinois Green Fleets Program. The Illinois Green Fuels and the Illinois Green Dealers programs will recognize Illinois fuel stations and dealerships that enable fleets to become a "Green Fleet."

The Illinois Green Fuels program recognizes retail or commercial fuel stations that sell E-85, natural gas, propane, and biodiesel to the general public or to other fleets. There are several fuel stations in Illinois that sell these green fuels to various fleets and to the general public. Without the owners of these stations taking the lead in installing and maintaining the infrastructure to make the clean fuels available, there would not be as many Green Fleets in the State.

In addition, the Illinois Green Dealers program highlights and recognizes the vehicle dealerships in Illinois that provide training for their sales staff and maintenance technicians on how to sell and service natural gas, propane, E-85, and electric vehicles. Only specialized dealerships that are certified by their respective manufacturers to sell the vehicles and to perform maintenance to satisfy all of their customers' needs for "green vehicles" receive this designation. An elite group of Illinois dealerships qualify for the "Illinois Green Dealers" program and, along with the Illinois Green Fuels stations, will be designated in 2003.

The Illinois Green Fuels and the Illinois Green Dealers programs will be part of the Illinois Green Fleets Program. The fuel stations and dealerships help to complete the "triangle" that is needed to support fleets in their vehicle purchases and fuel use. Two adaptations of the existing Illinois Green Fleets logo will be used for the two programs to identify the stations that sell green fuels and the dealers that sell and service green vehicles for its fleet customers and to the general public. In the future, look for information on the designated green fuel stations and dealerships on the Illinois Green Fleets website at www.illinoisgreenfleets.org.