Illinois State Fair visitors can view a
demonstration of website features at
Tech Town
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Illinois travelers can access up-to-date
gasoline price comparisons
at
www.illinois.gov/gasprices
[AUG. 14, 2004]
SPRINGFIELD -- While
officially opening Tech Town, one of the most popular stops at the
Illinois State Fair, Gov. Rod Blagojevich launched a new website
Friday. On the website,
www.illinois.gov/gasprices, Illinoisans and visitors to the
state can check the latest gasoline prices in Illinois and file
complaints about price gouging. The site is part of the governor's
comprehensive plan to address high fuel prices.
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In the past year, Illinois has
experienced an increase of more than 30 percent in gas prices, from
a statewide average of $1.57 to more than $2 per gallon of regular
unleaded. Gas prices in urban areas like Chicago peaked above $2.20
per gallon.
"People really feel the pain of
high gas prices at this time of year. August is a busy travel month.
Families try to squeeze in vacations before the school year starts.
Our new website will help travelers -- and people who have to drive
shorter distances to and from work every day -- prepare for the cost
of their trips and know where to find lower gas prices," Gov.
Blagojevich said.
The new site, on display at
Tech Town -- located just south of Food-O-Rama and east of the
Coliseum on the fairgrounds, is updated daily with the average price
for gasoline and diesel fuel in Illinois. Consumers can also compare
prices throughout the state by checking the data on more than 600
Illinois municipalities. While the Department of Agriculture
inspects gasoline stations in Illinois to assure that customers are
getting the fuel they pay for, the website allows consumers who feel
they have been subject to unfair pricing to file a complaint.
The "Gas Price Monitoring" site
also helps consumers learn about improving fuel economy, how
gasoline is priced and how the petroleum industry works.
In addition, the site provides
information about alternatives to driving, such as public transit,
bicycling and car sharing.
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this article]
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In April, the governor unveiled
a comprehensive plan to help stem skyrocketing gas prices in
Illinois. His plan involves a combination of action at both the
state and federal levels to guard against price gouging while
reducing the country's reliance on unpredictable and expensive
foreign oil supplies.
As part of the plan, he signed
two executive orders: one that charged the Department of
Revenue, with the help of the Department of Agriculture and the
Environmental Protection Agency, with the responsibility of
monitoring retail and wholesale gasoline prices in Illinois; and a
second that required state employees to use renewable fuels -- like
biodiesel and E-85 -- in state-owned vehicles whenever practical.
In
addition, Blagojevich's plan included aggressive promotion of a
program that encourages state employees to use mass transit by
allowing them to use pretax earnings to pay for commuting costs. The
state also launched a toll-free phone number to provide private
employers with information about how to set up similar programs for
their employees. Interested state employees and private employers
can call 1 (866) 637-9801 for more information.
[News release from the
governor's office]
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