Higher costs driving motorists to alternative-fuel vehicles (Louisiana)

[jpak]

http://www.iberianet.com/articles/2007/05/10/news/news/news22.txt

BATON ROUGE - Automakers recently celebrated National Alternative Fuel Autos Month by releasing state specific data of the sales of alternative fuel autos. The R.L. Polk and Co. figures show more than 190,000 alternative fuel autos on Louisiana's roads in 2006, an increase of 28 percent from 2005 when there were more than 149,000 such autos on the state's roads.

There are 2,633 hybrid electric, 92,631 ethanol-capable E-85s and 95,171 clean diesel autos on Louisiana's roads. Although ethanol is usually made from corn, researchers at Louisiana State University are studying how to convert local crops, like sugar cane, into ethanol. And, six biofuel projects are under way in Louisiana, including three ethanol and three biodiesel plants.

"I am not surprised that there is a 28 percent increase in alternative-fuel vehicles in Louisiana," said David Groner, co-owner of Sustainable Fuels LLC, a biodiesel production plant scheduled to set up shop at the Port of West St. Mary by the end of the year. "As gasoline prices continue to increase consumers will look harder at competitively priced alternative fuel vehicles."

Groner and his partner, fellow New Iberian Mike Valls, said they think biodiesel is one of the choices that more and more consumers will make as the fuel becomes available and auto manufacturers begin offering more diesel engine passenger cars to the public.

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