Back to the future with old gas
JASPER, Ore. - Lane County is about two weeks into the E-10 gasoline conversion.
Many Willamette Valley counties had to change all fuel to the ethanol blend by April 15. But if you look hard enough, there is something else coming out of that gas pump.
A couple of country stores in Lane County decided to use a state rule to offer a new product - that is old. Confused? Let's call it a return to the straight stuff.
It's not cheaper. A gallon of premium at the Jasper Store is about to top $4 a gallon.
However, store owner Jerry Haddock bet customers won't mind the price for clear premium.
"It is basically the old premium that we had before April 15 and the law went into effect," Haddock said.
It's the 92 octane straight stuff. The state allows stations to sell the clear premium under certain conditions.
Also selling the clear premium is Mathers Market in Cedar Flat
"We can sell it to boats, wave runners, 4-wheelers, gas cans for lawn mowers, chain saws, weed eaters," said owner Dave Wing.
The store in Cedar Flat and the Jasper Store contract with the Jerry Brown Company to get the non-E-10 gas with the state's blessing.
"So the state actually is very pleased that we're going to have outlets with this product," said co-owner Garry Liekens at Jerry Brown.
Haddock started offering clear premium a few days ago. So far, the public reaction has been good, he said. He thinks his timing is just about right.
"I may not have done this if we were coming into the Christmas season, but we are coming into the boating season," he said. "So we decided to give it a whirl and see what happens."
For both stores, it's a chance to pump life into profits this spring and summer. The clear premium has also been approved for snowmobiles and aircraft, though Haddock joked he doesn't expect to see many airplanes at the Jasper Store.
Jerry Brown Company officials said they expect six to 12 more stations in their service area will offer the clear premium gas in the next 45 days.
Many Willamette Valley counties had to change all fuel to the ethanol blend by April 15. But if you look hard enough, there is something else coming out of that gas pump.
A couple of country stores in Lane County decided to use a state rule to offer a new product - that is old. Confused? Let's call it a return to the straight stuff.
It's not cheaper. A gallon of premium at the Jasper Store is about to top $4 a gallon.
However, store owner Jerry Haddock bet customers won't mind the price for clear premium.
"It is basically the old premium that we had before April 15 and the law went into effect," Haddock said.
It's the 92 octane straight stuff. The state allows stations to sell the clear premium under certain conditions.
Also selling the clear premium is Mathers Market in Cedar Flat
"We can sell it to boats, wave runners, 4-wheelers, gas cans for lawn mowers, chain saws, weed eaters," said owner Dave Wing.
The store in Cedar Flat and the Jasper Store contract with the Jerry Brown Company to get the non-E-10 gas with the state's blessing.
"So the state actually is very pleased that we're going to have outlets with this product," said co-owner Garry Liekens at Jerry Brown.
Haddock started offering clear premium a few days ago. So far, the public reaction has been good, he said. He thinks his timing is just about right.
"I may not have done this if we were coming into the Christmas season, but we are coming into the boating season," he said. "So we decided to give it a whirl and see what happens."
For both stores, it's a chance to pump life into profits this spring and summer. The clear premium has also been approved for snowmobiles and aircraft, though Haddock joked he doesn't expect to see many airplanes at the Jasper Store.
Jerry Brown Company officials said they expect six to 12 more stations in their service area will offer the clear premium gas in the next 45 days.
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