New Super Stop first to offer environment-friendly fuel

By Keri Lunt, Staff Writer

Another Super Stop is coming to the Gila Valley. Reay's Ranch Investors, owners of Super Stop convenience stores, announce the opening of their newest store Sept. 18.

The store will be open 24 hours and be the first fuel site in Graham County to offer E-85 ethanol. The store is located at 1780 W. Hwy. 70 in Safford next to McDonald's.

E-85 is a motor fuel blend of 85-percent ethanol and 15-percent gasoline. Ethanol is a renewable fuel made from corn and can be used only in flex fuel vehicles. FFVs can run on E-85, gasoline or any blend of the two.

Chrysler, Nissan, Ford/Lincoln/Mercury and Mercedes are just a few vehicles that can utilize E-85. Check the Web at www.e85fuel-.com for other FFVs.

Though the price of E-85 ranges approximately 25 cents below the cost of gasoline, it is not "cheaper." Prices at the pump may be less but that is because of the reduced fuel economy.

Today the United States has more then six million FFVs on the road. The state of Arizona has 110,000 registered FFVs and as of 2004, Thatcher had 52 flex fuel vehicles registered.

The Super Stop is a convenience store and will sell gasoline as well as other products inside. There will presumably be eight to 15 employees working at the site. The other Super Stop in the Gila Valley is located on 3775 West Main Street in Thatcher. It opened in 2003.