If national security was the issue, we would develop our own viable energy sources. National security is only a side issue. The entire idea of energy independence is ridiculous. Energy is a world wide commodity in various forms. We are growing more interdependent on energy as we are on almost every other industrial area.
Corn based ethanol is a product that consumers do not want. Ethanol corrodes engine components and contains only 2/3 energy as unleaded gasoline. Corn-based ethanol has also been linked to smog increases particularly in the Rocky Mountain region in Colorado.
Corn-based ethanol would not exist in its current form without massive mandates and subsidies. If ethanol is the answer, there is no reason to maintain the tarriff on foreign ethanol. The farm state representatives have extracted massive handouts from the rest of the country due to the battle over control of the Senate. For reasons that I do not understand, environmentalists have not strongly objected to corn-based ethanol. Ethanol is not a green product in any way.
These other biofuels may become viable but clearly they are not viable now, nor the near future. The ridiculous mandates in the new energy bill will only result in boondoggles. The high price of petroleum is all the incentive to develop viable alternative energy sources. The energy bill is just a Soviet style central plan doomed to failure. Bush and other conservatives who supported this bill should hold their heads in shame.
No argument that it is better to achieve progress in the energy field by private enterprise than by government mandate.
When I hear people bad mouthing ethanol, I think of the 75 years and billions of dollars we have spent trying to improve gasoline, and it is still a far from perfect fuel.
Would you care to compare a couple years of ethanol subsidies with 50 years of gasoline subsidies?
Of course being independent of Muslim oil is a national security issue, and both Reps and Dems are failing to address it adequatly, tho some progress is being made. The National Strategic Oil Reserves, established in response to the OPEC oil embargos of the 70s is one example of progress. The massive private investment in American Home Grown energy of every description is another.
If Iran succeeds in turning the Mideast into a nuclear cinder block we will sure get energy independent, in a big hurry.
I would toss Venezuelan oil in the taboo column too, what with Chavez using it as a weapon. I have no problem with importing Canadian and Mexican oil, as close as it is.
larry