Since Bill Smith opened his biofuel station in Southern Pines, I have made an effort to fuel up there as often as possible. I have been using the E-10 ethanol in my company truck.

Each time I stop for a refill, I am baffled that not many people are buying these products.

Granted the 85 percent ethanol blend can't be used in any but the newer vehicles, but the E-10 can be used in any type of gasoline vehicle.

It's inexpensive (within a penny of the cheapest fuel in town). It's cleaner burning. It's good for the farmers. It reduces our dependence on foreign oil.

After all of the outrage and howling about gasoline prices, you would think people would try to do more to help themselves. Don't they realize that the more of this renewable resource we use, the more control we have over pump prices?

Below are some facts from www.driving ethanol.com

-- Right now ethanol replaces 600,000 barrels of oil a day.

-- In 2005 ethanol production reduced the deficit by $8.7 billion.

-- Ethanol industry created 157,725 jobs in all segments of the economy.

Of course, these are small numbers in the big scheme of things, but it is a start.

I'm encouraging my employees and friends to start using the E-10 whenever possible.

This may not be the long-term solution, but I believe it's the thing to do right now.

Charles (Chuck) Ferrell