One of the attributes that makes cooperatives different is the commitment they have to their communities.  While it’s true that cooperatives don’t have the huge mega-bucks to give away like some of the big investor-owned utilities, not-for profit cooperatives contribute through long-term relationships with the communities they serve, and cooperatives maintain a local office where members can visit if the need arises.

As a part of the commitment to our community, Southeastern has been using a 10% ethanol-blended gasoline for over a decade and all of our gasoline powered vehicles utilize that fuel.  Despite its detractors, who predicted we would have all kinds of mechanical problems resultant from the use of ethanol, there have been none, and recently we retired a three-quarter ton pickup truck with approximately 200,000 miles on it, with absolutely no engine problems.

By the end of 2003, the United States will be producing over 2 billion gallons of ethanol and if used to fuel our cars and trucks (which can be modified to run on an 85% ethanol-blend) would displace almost 9% of imported foreign oil. 

Not long ago, the cooperative began using soy-diesel in all of its diesel powered equipment.  Although we are being conservative by using a blend of 2% soy, we believe the slight extra cost of this fuel will prove to be worthwhile.

One bushel of soybeans will make about 1.5 gallons of soy oil.  If 2% of the diesel fuel used was displaced with soy-diesel, it would create a market for an additional 46 million bushels of soybeans.

The use of bio-fuels may seem like a minuscule issue, but in fact, such use of bio-fuels increases the market price of corn and soybeans, increases the income of farmers, improves the local rural economies, reduces our dependence on foreign oil and produces cleaner air.

If everyone would get on board and use bio-fuels, perhaps the Midwest could become as important as the Mideast someday.