Times of Northwest Indiana Staff and Wire Reports
Northwest Indiana motorists will soon have more options for where to fill up on E-85 fuel.
Meijer Inc. and General Motors Corp. announced plans on Thursday to cooperate to make ethanol-based fuel available at the discount chain's gas stations in Indiana.
Meijer operates stores locally in Highland, Merrillville and Michigan City.
Up to now, Gas City stations offered the only supplies of E-85 in Northwest Indiana, in stores in Hobart, Hammond and Dyer.
The plan introduced by Meijer and General Motors would increase the number of sites pumping the blend in Indiana to almost 50, meeting a goal set by the state.
Gov. Mitch Daniels, U.S. Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman, Meijer and GM officials and Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman announced the plan Thursday during a news conference at a Meijer station on Indianapolis west side.
E85 is a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent petroleum-based gasoline.
About 4 million vehicles now on the road can use E85 or gasoline. Most owners use unleaded gasoline because of the scarcity of stations selling E85.
Adding the Meijer pumps will increase the total available in Indiana to 30. The state said it plans to add 19 more, increasing the total to 49 by the end of this year.
Supporters of E85 say it can reduce oil imports, cut emissions and help farmers. Ethanol commonly is made from corn and soy beans.
Indiana now has one ethanol plant, operated by New Energy Corp., in South Bend. Eight ethanol plants and three biofuel plants are under development in the state and at least two dozen others are being considered by developers, according to the Indiana Economic Development Corp.