ILS1
08-16-2006, 06:36 PM
By Claudia Grisales
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
The H-E-B grocery chain launched sales of ethanol-based fuel at gas stations in North Austin, Buda and three other locations along the Interstate 35 corridor Wednesday, and curious drivers were more than interested.
"I've been waiting two months for this," said Rhett Humphrey, a worker for the Lower Colorado River Authority who filled up his Ford Explorer on E-85. "If I can burn ethanol (instead of regular unleaded gasoline), it's better."
H-E-B is the first major retailer to sell E-85, which is 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, in Central Texas, as well as in San Antonio, Killeen and Waco.
Ethanol is a corn-based fuel that supporters promote as one way to reduce the nation's dependence on oil. However, it can be used only in so-called flexible fuel vehicles, which include many newer domestic models.
Initially, H-E-B will sell E-85 for at least 30 cents a gallon less than regular unleaded gasoline. However, E-85 delivers fewer miles per gallon than regular gasoline.
Wednesday morning, H-E-B's Parmer Lane station was selling E-85 for $2.40 a gallon, below the $2.80 for regular unleaded.
This will result in "real savings for consumers," said Larry Soward, commissioner of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Soward, along with Rep. Mark Strama, D-Austin, H-E-B officials, representatives with the Texas Farm Bureau and the Texas Department of Agriculture were among those launching sales at the Parmer Lane station Wednesday morning.
:D :D
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
The H-E-B grocery chain launched sales of ethanol-based fuel at gas stations in North Austin, Buda and three other locations along the Interstate 35 corridor Wednesday, and curious drivers were more than interested.
"I've been waiting two months for this," said Rhett Humphrey, a worker for the Lower Colorado River Authority who filled up his Ford Explorer on E-85. "If I can burn ethanol (instead of regular unleaded gasoline), it's better."
H-E-B is the first major retailer to sell E-85, which is 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, in Central Texas, as well as in San Antonio, Killeen and Waco.
Ethanol is a corn-based fuel that supporters promote as one way to reduce the nation's dependence on oil. However, it can be used only in so-called flexible fuel vehicles, which include many newer domestic models.
Initially, H-E-B will sell E-85 for at least 30 cents a gallon less than regular unleaded gasoline. However, E-85 delivers fewer miles per gallon than regular gasoline.
Wednesday morning, H-E-B's Parmer Lane station was selling E-85 for $2.40 a gallon, below the $2.80 for regular unleaded.
This will result in "real savings for consumers," said Larry Soward, commissioner of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Soward, along with Rep. Mark Strama, D-Austin, H-E-B officials, representatives with the Texas Farm Bureau and the Texas Department of Agriculture were among those launching sales at the Parmer Lane station Wednesday morning.
:D :D