LOS ANGELES (AP) -- A Southern California group has declined about $11 million in federal money that was earmarked to build ethanol fueling stations across the region.

The Southern California Association of Governments rejected the stimulus funds Thursday. It says using more ethanol in Southern California would actually increase pollution because it must be trucked from farms in the Midwest.

The federal money would have been used to build 55 stations that could pump a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. The corn-based fuel has been promoted as a cleaner burning, renewable fuel alternative.

About 500,000 vehicles in California are equipped to use the blend.

Some 2,000 stations around the country offer so-called E-85 fuels, including six in Southern California.

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Information from: Los Angeles Times, http://www.latimes.com

Copyright 2010 The AP.