Posted on 03/21/2004 5:59:59 AM PST by wallcrawlr
Gas prices are rising across the country. But if you have the right car in the right town, you can save an average of 40 cents per gallon by filling with E85. A fuel consisting of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, its advocates say E85 is better for the environment than straight gasoline. Kim Christianson, energy program manager with the North Dakota Department of Commerce, said ethanol offers great benefits to farmers in the state, to the environment, and to the user. "It's a direct benefit not only to folks who produce ethanol, but to farmers and land owners who grow corn," he said.
Cheaper than gas
And, lately, it benefits consumers because of its cost.
"Ethanol costs should be more stable than regular gasoline," Christianson said.
That's certainly the case at Cenex in Devils Lake.
Like everywhere else in the country, gas prices in Devils Lake have increased along with global crude oil prices as OPEC tightens production. On Friday, gasoline prices stood at $1.82 for unleaded or super unleaded.
But the price of ethanol, determined by things such as corn prices and tax policy, has stayed steady. E85 was selling for $1.39 a gallon Friday.
Emil Gregory, manager at the station, said the E85 became available there in January.
He said sales haven't been great - averaging at about 1,000 to 1,500 gallons each month - but Farmers Union Oil feels that a new source of energy, especially one that benefits the state, should be used locally as much as possible.
"We have two ethanol plants in North Dakota, so why not support our own corn growers?" he said.
That was another point Christianson brought up. Because E85 is just 15 percent gasoline, using it also reduces the country's dependence on foreign oil.
Disadvantages
But there are some disadvantages, too.
Christianson said cars running on E85, rather than gas with 10 percent ethanol, see a drop off in the number of miles they can travel per gallon of fuel. And only certain cars can run on E85.
"It can be used in 'flexible fuel' vehicles only," Gregory said.
Most cars that can use E85 were built after 2000. In a flexible fuel vehicle, onboard diagnostics "read" the fuel blend, enabling the driver to fuel with E85 or gasoline in any combination from a single tank.
He said the easiest way is to find out if you can fill your car with E85 is to check your car's manual or to contact your dealer.
But he added that more motor companies are beginning to manufacture cars that can use alternative fuels.
Availability
Although E85 may be better for the environment, it's simply not available everywhere yet.
Stamart in Grand Forks used to sell it, but decided to drop it because sales didn't go well.
In North Dakota, there are five stations that carry E85 in Fargo, West Fargo, Devils Lake, Bismarck and Oakes. In Minnesota, 90 stations carry the fuel, including one in Moorhead.
Christianson said the goal of the governor's office is to get at least one E85 station in each of the major cities in North Dakota: Grand Forks, Fargo, Bismarck, Devils Lake, Minot, Dickinson, Williston and Jamestown.
They also are working with some of the smaller areas to make the fuel available, offering matching grant dollars to assist with the cost of installing E85.
In addition, he said, the two offices are working on a marketing initiative for ethanol to make people aware of E85.
Until then, he said they will concentrate on getting people to fuel with 10 percent blend.
"We really just to want to get word out about ethanol fuel and its benefits to North Dakota," he said.
He said between 25 percent and 30 percent of vehicles that now refuel use an ethanol blend. They hope to increase that number to 50 percent in three years.
For more information, visit www.e85fuel.com.
This is the opposite of what the Free Traders advocate for everything else: No tariffs of any kind. Tariffs, they say, will only hurt us.
Anyone know if oil & refined petroleum is covered under GATT or other anti tarrif (anti "protectionist") treaty?
It's the excess condensed water in your tank that will freeze in transport to the induction system.
Here in Kalifornica they do, through a bottle deposit.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.