Friday, April 8, 2011

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is announcing an effort to increase production and use of a higher blend of ethanol fuel.

Under the plan, the federal government proposes offering financial incentives for gas stations to install more pumps that provide gas that is blended with 85% ethanol.

Vilsack is scheduled to formally announce the plan Friday at a plant in Greensboro, N.C., that makes pumps that dispense the higher blend fuel known as E-85. He says the goal is to add 10,000 flex-fuel pumps across the country over the next five years.

He says funds from the Rural Energy for America Program will be used to provide financial assistance to gas stations that install E-85 pumps.