With the help of senator Cunningham, Thorntons is celebrating the addition of E15 and E-85 fuels to its offerings at the company’s Oak Lawn, Ill. store.
At 2 p.m. on Tues., June 28, 2016, senator Bill Cunningham, who is also chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, will be appear at the newly-converted, Thorntons store in Oak Lawn, Ill. The senator will be appearing at the store to help celebrate its introduction of Unleaded15 Thorntons branded E15 fueling option, and E-85 at the pumps.
The newly converted Thorntons is located at 9138 South Cicero Ave. Oak Lawn, Ill. In addition to the senator, Matthew Nichols, the project manager of biofuels for Thorntons, will also be in attendance.
Senator Cunningham and Nichols will both make short remarks on the importance of biofuel growth in the Chicago area and why the introduction of Thorntons Unleaded15 fuel is so important. There will also be a guided tour for media following the remarks.
The following people will also be on-site and available for interviews:
- Kelly Burke, Illinois representative
- Jeff Jarboe, president of Illinois Corn Growers
- Greg Webb, vice president of State Government Relations at Archer Daniels Midland Co. (ADM)
- John DeRosa, environmental program director from the American Lung Association in Illinois
- Bailey Arnold, manager of Clean Air at American Lung Association in Illinois
- Kent Kleinschmidt president of Tazewell County Farm Bureau
As part of Thorntons recent commitment to invest in renewable fuels in Illinois, this store is one of 43 locations in Illinois that are being converted to sell both E-85 and Unleaded15. This initiative is part of the Biofuels Infrastructure Partnership Program funded by USDA. The American Lung Association will be on-site from 2-4 p.m. handing out coupons for $2 off each E- 85 or Unleaded15 purchase at Thorntons.
Unleaded15 (up to 15% ethanol, 85% gasoline) provides an octane rating of 88, and is the most widely-tested fuel ever introduced to consumers. It contains approximately 15% ethanol, and is approved by the EPA for use in model year 2001 or newer cars, light duty trucks, SUV’s and Flex Fuel vehicles. This fuel typically costs less than regular Unleaded, and is believed to deliver better performance and fewer harmful emissions.
Unleaded15 differs from E85, in that E85 is a Flex Fuel that is a mixture of up to 85% ethanol and 15% petroleum. Ethanol is a renewable fuel source that reduces harmful environmental emissions and provides multiple economic benefits. Today, the vast majority of domestic ethanol is produced from corn, an abundant and renewable grain. This renewable fuel source helps to reduce carbon emissions, helps promote cleaner air, boosts the U.S. economy, creates jobs and reduces foreign oil imports.