Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Illinois drivers should brace for higher gas prices this year.

“There is a fight on the federal level between the refiners and the ethanol producers as to how to implement tax credits, and here in the state, consumers are going to get pinched in the middle of that fight, because the gas prices are going to go up by 25 to 30 cents throughout the state because Illinois is going to be forced to implement a boutique type of fuel,” said Nate Harris, CEO of the Illinois Fuel and Retail Association. “There is currently a waiver for most of the country, where E-10 is allowed in the summer months. Illinois and a bunch of other Midwest states opted out of that waiver in hopes of moving the ball on a national level for E-15.”

Harris says there is no need to take sides here politically. “I don’t think that either party is to blame here,” he said. “I also don’t think that either party has yet to step up to fix the situation.”