More ethanol subsidies

While on the subject of fuel, you might be interested in this news item from the Department of Agriculture.  It seems that USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack has decided that this country doesn’t have enough gas station pumps that can dispense “gasoline” with an ethanol content higher than 10%.

New blender pumps, which Mr. Vilsack said cost about $120,000 to install, … would make it easier for drivers of conventional cars to increase the ethanol content of the gasoline they buy.

So, the Department of Agriculture has decided it would be a swell idea if your tax dollars were used to provide loan guarantees and grants to station owners who want to install these new pumps.  According to the Department, the total cost of this proposal is unknown because we don’t know how many folks will take advantage of this nifty program.

Maybe I missed something, but, I haven’t met anyone who is clamoring to put E-15 in their vehicles.  I don’t know, perhaps they are deterred by the fact that their car manufacturer has informed them that their warranty is voided if they use an ethanol content greater than 10%.

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SoundOffSister

The Sound Off Sister was an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and special trial attorney for the Department of Justice, Criminal Division; a partner in the Florida law firm of Shutts & Bowen, and an adjunct professor at the University of Miami, School of Law. The Sound Off Sister offers frequent commentary concerning legislation making its way through Congress, including the health reform legislation passed in early 2010.

10 Comments

  1. kateinmaine on April 10, 2011 at 9:35 am

    not to mention that it kills small engines and will do considerable harm to any car/truck engine built before 2007.    but look at all the gas you'll conserve.   and all the jobs that will be created/saved in the engine repair market.  it's a win-WHAT?



  2. PatRiot on April 10, 2011 at 4:08 pm

    We will have to yell loud and long to stop this from happening.

    As I recall,  scientists implored Congress NOT to allow MTBE as a gas additive.  They knew it was going to cause health issues.  Congrss ignored them.  Yes there were health issues.  Yes Congress stopped MTBE.  And Like the Wall St. debacle, some Congresscritter made it impossible for the American public to take the responsible parties to court.

    Result" Unhealthy cars, etc and higher food costs.  More corn for fuel, less corn for eating. 

    http://www.indexmundi.com/commodities/?commodity=

     



    • PatRiot on April 10, 2011 at 4:17 pm

      The Government is broken and the only people responsible enough to fix it is you and me.  

      Time to be Americans. 

      If it wasn't for the Constitution, we wouldn't be free to be Repubs and Dems, union, etc.  We would be something less.  And that just isn't acceptable.



    • Dimsdale on April 11, 2011 at 5:04 am

      Fix the government and the rest will fix itself….



  3. [email protected] on April 11, 2011 at 1:42 am

    Another payoff to the ethanol lobby who drive up the cost of our food by providing us with a less efficient fuel.  Why doesn't Obama allow the Brazilians to sell us some of their ethanol to let the market place actually work.   It's OK for them to sell us Gulf of Mexico oil but not ethanol?  How ironic.



    • SoundOffSister on April 11, 2011 at 2:08 am

      Phil,

      Brazil can sell us ethanol…it's just subject to a 54 cent per gallon tariff!



  4. Plainvillian on April 11, 2011 at 4:19 am

    Pardon the pun but the global warming fantasy induced corn belt vote buying subsidy has come a cropper.



  5. Murphy on April 11, 2011 at 7:32 am

    If it allows you to reduce the amount of ethanol in the mix I'll send a check myself. While I've know from personal experience the current 10% mix is terrible Autoweek's recent article on the new Golf R mentions the US version's engine is rated at about 10% less horsepower due the bad fuel. Want to increase MPG – DROP THE ETHANOL. And let me enjoy my corn with salt and butter!



    • GdavidH on April 11, 2011 at 10:00 am

      Mmmmm….Butter



  6. Dimsdale on April 12, 2011 at 8:12 am

    Better yet: let me enjoy the steak from the cow that was fattened with that corn!



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