By KEN de la BASTIDE, Kokomo Tribune enterprise editor
TIPTON – Motorists lined up along Berryman Street to take advantage of a two-hour sale on the price of gasoline Friday.
To celebrate Energy PLUS 24 becoming the first station in Indiana to offer four different types of alternative fuels – two ethanol blends and two bio-diesel fuels – motorists received 30 cents off the price of gasoline.
At $2.69 per gallon, the gasoline was a bargain – as were the free hot dogs, soft drinks and strawberries in whipped cream. The per-gallon price at many area stations hovered near the $3 mark.
Tipton resident Gregg Townsend pulled up, not knowing what the discount on the price would be.
“I stop here on occasion,” Townsend said. “I probably would use bio-fuels if my truck was set up for it.”
“Not too shabby,” was his reaction to the 30-cent discount.
The federal government should be encouraging the use of alternative fuels, Townsend said.
“I wish Congress would let them drill for our own oil in Alaska,” he said. “We are transferring trillions of dollars to our enemies, who are using the money to buy weapons to destroy us.”
Jim Leffler was trying bio-diesel fuel for the first time in his pickup truck, but was disappointed there was no discount in the price.
“This is the best way to go,” Leffler said. “We should be promoting our farm products.”
With an ethanol plant being constructed in Tipton, Leffler said it will create jobs in the county and help the local farming community.
“The price of corn will edge up,” Leffler said. “I think it should go up and still not hurt the consumer.”
The discount wasn’t offered on bio-diesel fuels because the station was celebrating the introduction of an E-85 pump, said Mike Still, chief executive of Co-Alliance Cooperative.
“We want to be a leader,” Still said. “Supply and demand will determine the price [of fuel]. The price will come down as more [ethanol and bio-diesel fuel] is produced in the future.”
Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman said Indiana’s economic engine is warming up.
The state had one bio-fuel production plant in 2004. Today there are 11 ethanol plants and three bio-diesel facilities either operating or planned, Skillman said. Those plants are expected to create 600 jobs.
“Indiana has been lagging behind other states in the Midwest,” she said. “This, despite the fact that we’re fifth in corn and fourth in soybean production in the nation.”
Farmers growing corn and soybeans within 30 miles of the production facilities will see a significant increase in prices for their produce.
“It will be higher than $2 or $3 per bushel,” Skillman said. “We have made rapid progress in one year’s time. We were concerned about the availability of corn for ethanol at a time when the state is trying to grow livestock production. A study found we are well situated for the future to produce 1 billion gallons of ethanol per year and double the pork production.”
Skillman said demand for alternative fuels will continue to increase and the increased production will bring the price down.
“Indiana will drive the nation toward a lessened dependence on foreign oil,” she said. “There will be a tremendous payoff for Indiana. Bio-fuels are our future.”