Ethanol fuel comes to Hinesville

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By Dal Cannady bio | email

HINESVILLE, GA (WTOC) - A Southeast Georgia company now offers could become the best alternative to gasoline for American drivers. Clyde's Market now features a single pump for the ethanol fuel E85.

The company's store on EG Miles Parkway in Hinesville became the second retailer in the state to offer E85. Five years ago, only 200 pumps existed nationwide.

"Now, there's 100,000. This is not a niche product," stated Mac Woolard of Clyde's. "It is a main stream industry."

The fuel is made with 85 percent ethanol and only 15 percent gasoline.

As prices at the other gas pumps seem to spin out of control, Tonya Wright feels it as she commutes back and forth from Hinesville to Savannah.

"It is to a point where you think do you buy gas or do you get groceries. It's hard," she said.

The sign for E85 ethanol didn't catch her eye, but the lower price did. "Wow," she said after a double take.

Ethanol mainly comes from corn right now. But its makers hope to expand to use tree fiber very soon and eventually even use garbage. The downside to E85 right now is you can only run it if your car was made to use it.

Car dealers like Martin NeSmith hope to see more of them on the road. "Most GM vehicles, trucks and SUV's that is, made today are E85 ethanol capable," explained the Chevrolet dealer. "So every driver that buys one from us, we're going to fill it up with E85."

Governor Sonny Perdue spoke with WTOC from San Diego about E85's appeal.

"Hopefully, our citizens will learn the more they use the E85, the less we're dependent on foreign fuel, foreign petroleum," he noted.

Some major customers have taken notice. A transportation representative from Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield at the pump's opening estimated they used more than 300 E85 capable cars and trucks and would begin using the fuel. Saving 50 cents per gallon per car could quickly save taxpayers thousands of dollars.

Governor Perdue noted the state is in the process of helping other stores with grants to buy pumps and tanks for E85. Woolard estimated Clyde's had spent $60,000 to equip that store alone.

"If it fuels the car, it would be an awesome thing," she said with a laugh.