Switch to Ethanol May Have Mixed Results

By Josh Newton, Tahlequah Daily Press, Okla.

Jul. 10–When the fuel truck pulls into E-Z Mart on Muskogee today, it will bring with it a change for the Shell station: fuel mixed with 10 percent ethanol.

Manager Sherida Bear said this will be her first shipment of the mixed fuel. Several gas stations in town already sell it, she said.

“Gas prices [at E-Z Mart] will go down, probably,” said Bear. “I’d say about .08 cents. Other stores [that have ethanol mixtures] are at about $3.88.”

When the Press spoke with Bear, gasoline prices at E-Z Mart were $3.95 for regular unleaded, but the price dropped after noon to $3.91.

But Bear isn’t sure what effect the ethanol mix will have on the store’s customers.

“A lot of people do like it, a lot of people don’t,” she said. “I say the majority don’t. They’re just scared of it, I think, because they don’t know much about it.”

Proponents of ethanol fuel say it carries benefits to both the environment and energy security. It is a renewable fuel that comes from corn, thus allowing it to be produced domestically.

But other say ethanol has drawbacks. While it may be better for pollution, ethanol produces less energy than gasoline, according to Yahoo! Autos.

In other words, vehicles using ethanol will get fewer miles per gallon than 100 percent fuel.

Yahoo! estimates fuel economy decreases in vehicles from 20 to 30 percent. It also estimates a .013-cent-per-mile difference, over a year’s course, will add about $200 to fuel costs for some drivers.

“All pumps will have to be labeled [as ethanol mixtures], too,” said Bear.

A few local stations have posted signs stating they sell 100 percent gasoline.

When asked if the fuel at Speedy’s 66, east of Tahlequah, contained ethanol, an employee said, “Absolutely not!” The same goes for Clear Creek convenience store off the bypass, 66 Quick Stop south of the city, and Hit-N-Run on Muskogee.

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