Illinois Gov. George Ryan recently signed a bill that will ban the gasoline additive MTBE from Illinois beginning in 2004. Both MTBE and ethanol add oxygen to gasoline to make it burn cleaner. The ban will help corn growers because ethanol is made with corn. "MTBE is known to contaminate ground water," Ryan says. "This law bans its use in Illinois fuel and gives us the opportunity to use more ethanol produced from Illinois-grown corn. We will produce fuel that promotes clean air and does not contaminate our drinking water."

The state's Environmental Protection Agency will provide technical assistance and money to test drinking water for MTBE contamination.