Gas prices all over the country are higher than ever – more than 50 cents a gallon from a year ago – and with the latest spike in crude oil prices hitting record levels of more than $82 a barrell, expect those prices to continue to climb.
But KELO-TV in Sioux Falls, South Dakota says while regular unleaded is hitting $2.93 in that town, ethanol is considerably cheaper:
Gas with 10 percent ethanol is more than 20 cents a gallon cheaper and drivers are gobbling it up.
Driver Molly Stensaas says, “It’s cheaper and we’re farmers, so we’ve got to support the ethanol.”
Mark Madeja of AAA South Dakota says, “I think especially in Midwestern area where ethanol is so prevalent, you do have more drivers switching over; regardless of what you might hear about how it affects miles per gallon and fuel economy and those sorts of things.”
We couldn’t find anyone at this service station not filing up with an ethanol blend. And that can be really good for the economy because it has people driving more and spending more money.
[T]he expansion of the ethanol businesses is doing exactly what was intended, helping Americans gain some relief from dependency on foreign oil.Jeff Parker says, “Phenomenal. I don’t know why everybody doesn’t use it.”
Amen to that.