PARADISE VALLEY, AZ – General Motors has announced that it will provide 28 state governments with Chevrolet Avalanche demonstration vehicles that can run on a fuel blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, according to the Arizona Republic. Arizona is one of the participating state governments that will be using the fuel, known as E85.

GM officials believe the blend could help reduce national gasoline consumption, and provide a clean renewable energy resource. About a million GM flexible-fuel vehicles have been sold and can run on different fuel mixtures ranging from gasoline to E85. GM is the largest producer of E85 vehicles. Most of the E85 vehicles are pickup trucks and SUVs.

Ethanol is made from corn and other crops, and could help relieve growing international pressure on petroleum supplies, according to Thomas Stephens, vice president of GM Powertrains group.