The highly controversial EPA decision will ultimately reach its objective of reducing the pollution created by burning gasoline, but at the same time, I feel the general public will be concerned and cautious about the impact of ethanol on car's engines, even though the EPA claimed it relied on solid testing to make the changes. The fact that adding ethanol to gasoline reduces car's fuel efficiency, at a time when the government plans to drastically increase it, is particularly odd. The changes could result in new costs to gas stations which would have to buy new equipments to accommodate with the new regulations. Since the increase in ethanol levels is limited to relatively new vehicles, owners of old cars could have difficulties finding gasoline containing today's levels of ethanol once the measure is put into effect.
The EPA decision ought to be thoroughly analyzed before it is put into action. Although making our air cleaner should be a priority, the decision have the potential of negatively impacting a wide range of businesses and consumers.
Sources:
1- http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703673604575550261503126190.html?mod=WSJ_auto_IndustryCollection
2- http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/13/an-e15-quandary-for-service-station-owners/
While I never thought about the possibility that ethanol could harm engines, we must be very clear that ethanol is not the answer. In the “everything above” style of the green energy movement, the idea of using inefficient to grow corn or wheat to make ethanol was actually accepted. Corn takes a lot of water to grow and also takes up valuable space for growing edible crops. I doubt the ethanol fad will last beyond the next decade.
ReplyDeleteResponding to Chris R's comment. I believe that any alternative energy is better than our dependency upon Middle Eastern fuel. Correct, Ethanol has more costs than benefits, but the fad is going to help scientists develop and invent better sources of energy.
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