Missouri May Mandate Ethanol Blend
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 04.14.06
The Missouri House of Representatives has approved a bill that would mandate 10% ethanol in all gasoline sold in the state. Now waiting for Senate approval, the Missouri Renewable Fuel Standard would require that virtually all gasoline vendors sell a 10% blend of agriculturally derived ethanol as long as it costs the same or less than regular gasoline. Green Car Congress reports that, according to the Missouri Corn Growers’ Association, the mandate could help boost the state’s production of ethanol to 350 million gallons by 2008. In addition to building ethanol plants, Missouri is also forging ahead with ambitious biodiesel plans. :: Green Car Congress
How does this farmer subsidizing crap get spun into 'good-for-the-environment' news?
Programs like these give farmers incentives to grow more crops, which increases erosion due to tilling, increases water usage due to irrigation, and increases pollution due to use of pesticides and herbicides.
Also, the process increases the amount of fossil fuels used by farming equipment and the amount of fossil fuels needed to distill the ethanol from the corn.
Nah, they're getting the alcohol from that dude in the picture's liver ;)