'Terror-Free' Gas May Be Coming to a Street Near You

Jan. 29, 2007 — -- How far would you drive for a gallon of "terror-free" gas?

Consumers in Omaha, Neb., will be able to answer that question soon as the nation's first "terror-free" gas station is scheduled to open there Thursday.

The Terror-Free Oil Initiative, a group that says it is dedicated to encouraging Americans to buy gasoline that originates from countries that do not export or finance terrorism, is the driving force behind the idea.

"We felt like every time we filled at the pumps we were sending our money to a part of the world that wanted our destruction," said Joe Kaufman, Terror-Free Oil Initiative spokesman and chairman of the watchdog group Americans Against Hate.

"We felt like sending a message to gas companies that purchase crude oil from the Middle East that we are sick and tired of financing our own demise. We would like to avert the next 9/11," Kaufman said.

The Terror-Free Oil Initiative says that big oil companies like Exxon Mobil, Gulf and Shell finance terrorism by importing oil from the Middle East.

The "terror-free" gas station, on the other hand, will get its gas from a Salt Lake City-based oil company named Sinclair Oil Corp. Sinclair gets the bulk of its oil from sources in Canada and the United States.

Consumers across the country seem intrigued by the idea. Kaufman said his group had been "overwhelmed by the response."

Douglas Schmidt, of Ashland, Mass., runs a dry cleaning business and regularly buys gas for three company vehicles.

"I refuse to buy from Exxon Mobil right now," he said. "I buy from Hess. It's less expensive for one, but also it's a domestic company and that's important to me. I think it's a good idea."

Sean Fielding, another Ashland resident, was more skeptical as he filled up his Honda.

"I wouldn't believe it's terror-free. How can you prove that?" he said.

Good question. Sinclair company officials say that some of their oil comes from the New York Mercantile Exchange -- and that means it could be sourced from Middle Eastern countries. Kaufman concedes that because oil is a "fungible" commodity, it's "hard to confirm exactly where it comes from. To tell you the truth most companies cannot guarantee that."