8/1/05-Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed a bill into law July 28 to promote the use of biodiesel in Illinois.
The new law, previously HB112, requires any government-owned diesel vehicles to use a 2 percent biodiesel blend but only under certain conditions. For example, use of the blend is required only if the state vehicle is fueling at a bulk, central fueling facility, and if it is fueling at a location where the blend is available.
It allows governments in Illinois to use a fuel with a higher percentage of biodiesel if “the engine is designed or retrofitted to operate on a higher percentage of biodiesel or on ultra low sulfur fuel.”
The new law, which takes effect July 1, 2006, applies to “any diesel powered vehicle owned or operated by this state, any county or unit of local government, any school district, any community college or public college or university, or any mass transit agency.”

6/13/05-A bill that would promote the use of biodiesel in Illinois is on its way to Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s desk.
House and Senate lawmakers have given their approval to a bill – HB112 – that would require any government-owned diesel vehicle in the state to use a 2 percent biodiesel blend. The vehicle has to use the 2-percent blend only under certain conditions. For example, use of the blend is required only if the state vehicle is fueling at a bulk, central fueling facility, and if it is fueling at a location where the blend is available.
The bill allows governments in Illinois to use a fuel with a higher percentage of biodiesel, if “the engine is designed or retrofitted to operate on a higher percentage of biodiesel or on ultra low sulfur fuel.”
If signed into law, it would take effect July 1, 2006. It would apply to “any diesel powered vehicle owned or operated by this state, any county or unit of local government, any school district, any community college or public college or university, or any mass transit agency.”
For bill status, call (217) 782-5799.

4/29/05-The Senate State Government Committee unanimously approved a bill April 21 that would promote the use of biodiesel.
HB112, sponsored by Rep. Sara Feigenholtz, D-Chicago, would require that any government-owned diesel vehicle in the state must use a 2 percent biodiesel blend. The vehicle has to use the 2 percent blend only under certain conditions. For example, use of the blend is required only if the state vehicle is fueling at a bulk, central fueling facility, and if it is fueling at a location where the blend is available.
The bill allows governments in Illinois to use a fuel with a higher percentage of biodiesel, but says it can use a higher percentage if “the engine is designed or retrofitted to operate on a higher percentage of biodiesel.”
The measure, which if passed would become effective Jan. 1, 2006, would apply to “all diesel powered vehicles owned or operated by the state, any county or unit of local government, any school district, any community college or public college or university, or any mass transit agency.”
It is now headed to the full Senate for a final vote. It has already passed the House.
For bill status, call (217) 782-5799.

3/18/05-The House unanimously approved a watered down version of a bill that would promote the use of biodiesel.
HB112 now requires that any government-owned diesel vehicle in the state must use a 2 percent biodiesel blend. That’s down from the 50 percent blend required by the bill’s original wording.
Under the current version, the vehicles have to use the 2 percent blend only under certain conditions. For example, use of the blend is required only if the state vehicle is fueling at a bulk, central fueling facility, and if it is fueling at a location where the blend is available.
The bill, sponsored by sponsored by Rep. Sara Feigenholtz, D-Chicago, would allow governments to use a fuel with a higher percentage of biodiesel, but says it can use a higher percentage if “the engine is designed or retrofitted to operate on a higher percentage of biodiesel.”
The original version of the bill also would have hiked the fuel tax in Illinois by one-tenth of 1 cent, and used the money to reimburse those entities using the biodiesel a penny for each gallon consumed. That provision was dropped from the version of the bill that passed the House.
The measure, which if passed would be effective Jan. 1, 2006, would apply to “all diesel powered vehicles owned or operated by the state, any county or unit of local government, any school district, any community college or public college or university, or any mass transit agency.”
It now moves to the Senate for further consideration. For bill status, call (217) 782-5799.

2/11/05-A bill in the House Environment and Energy Committee would require every diesel vehicle owned by any government in Illinois – state, county or local – to use a blend of fuel that is at least 50 percent biodiesel.
HB112, sponsored by Rep. Sara Feigenholtz, D-Chicago, also would raise the state’s motor fuel tax from 19 cents per gallon to 19.1. The extra one-tenth of a cent would be placed in a fund to reimburse those governments 1 cent for every gallon of the biodiesel blend their vehicles consume.
For House bill status, call (217) 782-5799.
A similar Senate bill – SB119 – is in the Senate Transportation Committee.

1/19/05-Rep. Sara Feigenholtz, D-Chicago, has introduced a bill that would require every diesel vehicle owned by any government in Illinois – state, county or local – to use a blend of fuel that is at least 50 percent biodiesel.
HB112 also would raise the state’s motor fuel tax from 19 cents per gallon to 19.1. The extra one-tenth of a cent would be placed in a fund to reimburse those governments one cent for every gallon of the biodiesel blend their vehicles consume.
The bill is in the House Rules Committee. For House bill status, call (217) 782-5799.