Americans continue to grumble about the high price of gasoline, which remains around $3.50 in Davidson County, yet few take steps to reduce the nation's dependence on foreign oil and the accompanying volatility of prices. But a new service station in Lexington could perhaps cause some residents to reconsider not only the type of fuel they put in their vehicles but the type of cars, vans, SUVs and trucks they purchase in the first place.
Sparky's Marketplace, which recently opened on Old Salisbury Road near Interstate 85 Business Loop, becomes the first retailer in the Triad to sell ethanol and biodiesel fuels and only the 17th in the state. That designation should draw customers not only from Davidson County but those traveling through the area on Interstate 85 or U.S. Highway 52 as well. A built-in customer base already exists with flex-fuel vehicles operated by state government, such as the N.C. Highway Patrol and N.C. Forestry Service.
Even more impressive is the fact Sparky's is the first in the state to offer three different blends of ethanol fuel, ranging from 15 to 85 percent.
Some motorists may ask why they should care what type of fuel goes into their vehicle, as long as it takes them from point A to point B. One reason is the price: Gas with higher concentrations of ethanol is cheaper than regular gasoline (which, it should be noted, also contains ethanol). It burns cleaner, which means it's better for the environment. Proponents of alternative fuels also say they're better for car engines.
Not all vehicles can handle the fuels with the highest levels of ethanol, and prices can keep some car shoppers from turning to these models. If manufacturers can find ways to lower the sticker price of the vehicles, then more people would consider them, especially if they knew the cost to fill their tank would be reduced. But environmentally conscious county residents, and those who want to save some money, should check their owner's manuals to see what grade of ethanol their vehicles can already handle.
Hill Oil Co., which developed Sparky's, would not have built a station offering the alternative fuels if it didn't make business sense. But as Mayne Hill, a co-owner of the company, pointed out, it's also the right thing to do, both for the environment and also to reduce the nation's reliance on foreign oil. In the long run, that's one of the most compelling reasons to use alternative fuels. Anything that enables the United States to produce more of its own fuel and not have to import it will have numerous benefits, including lower prices, less chance of becoming embroiled in Mideast conflicts and a more environmentally friendly energy policy. Perhaps in the near future most new service stations will offer alternative fuels to meet customer demand.