I remember the days when the Los Angeles basin was a visibly dirty, filthy air smog pit.
Then let the residents of the Los Angeles basin PAY for the ethanol. 90% of the rest of the USA doesn't need "specialty" gas to have clean air and water. Why should all of America be saddled with the extra expenses of some people who choose to live in areas susceptible to smog.
Government issuing one size fits all regulations creates more problems that will be addressed by more regulations which creates more problems . . . .
“Ethanol as a fuel reduces harmful tailpipe emissions of carbon monoxide, particulate matter, oxides of nitrogen, and other ozone-forming pollutants.”
Ethanol (E10) reduces gas mileage, dissolves seals, burns hotter so damages pistons and valves, and attracts moisture so increases rust in engines. Not to mention that it takes more energy to manufacture 1 gallon of ethanol than it takes to manufacture 1 gallon of gasoline, and it is removing a food staple from the market, increasing its cost (the food staple, that is).
Frankly, it is not ready for prime time, and we taxpayers should not be subsidizing any private industry, not to mention ones that cannot succeed without massive influxes of taxpayer’s dollars.
I think most of the rural US is running on non-ethanol gas. My personal mileage is much better when I’m out on the road ... far removed from a city.
Well said Bob
1. From ...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_ethanol_fuel_mixtures#cite_note-17
... we have in the notes that “ Though mandated only in 10 states, ethanol blends in the US are available in other states as optional or added without any labeling, making E blends present in two-thirds of the US gas supply.”