The assumption is that the availability of the feedstock - natural gas - is rapidly increasing. Methanol is simply a mode for the storage of natural gas in a liquid form.Used as fuel, all fuel taxes would be applied.
One way to put a finger on the scale would be to tax methanol at the same rate per gallon as gasoline. That would be unfair to methanol because you only get about half the heat energy from a gallon of methanol, and about 2/3 as much mileage. The road tax is supposed to fund the maintenance of roads, which maps to mileage rather than either volume of fuel or heat value.
NIMBY’s and Eco-Nuts are doing their best to prevent further shale gas production.
If they were true to their “Green” rhetoric they would support it, but their true agenda is to shake down anyone they can for a profit.
I wish I could find the link to the recent article detailing how the ‘nuts here in Nevada formed a “Green” corporation for the SOLE PURPOSE of shaking down the natural gas pipeline company building in our northern region.
The agreed to NOT sue and hold up the project, provided the pipe company gave them a suitable “Donation”, which I recognize as extortion.
IF Methanol becomes a significant source of energy, particularly mobile energy, the ‘nuts will invent all sorts of “Studies” to sound the alarm and drive up prices.
My main point is that if PRIVATE enterprise wants to gamble on Methanol, with PRIVATE funding, fine.
But use real world numbers for any comparison, not a single “Test” which left out important criteria, endurance testing, effect on older vehicles, etc.
You can count on all levels of Gov. Org. to put their finger on the scale, they are desperate for additional revenue and “Fair” is not a concern to them.
You have probably seen their efforts to change the tax law, desiring to put transponders in our cars to track our mileage?
This is one of the unintended(?) consequences of mandating mileage, and pushing electric/hybrid, less gas sold = “Need” to raise taxes.
I see this legislation setting the stage for the eventual outlawing of traditional Gasoline, which I depend on for all of my vehicles.