Letter to the Editor: Ethanol’s questionable value
BY O.A. Cantrell, Tulsa
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Concerning the Environmental Protection
Agency’s recent decision to increase
the amount of ethanol that can
be added to gasoline to 15 percent from
the present 10 percent: I am getting two
to three fewer miles to a gallon of gasoline
than I did using undiluted gasoline.
This means there is no savings in the
amount of gasoline used. How does this
help reduce the amount of oil we import?
When you consider the costs of subsidies,
growing and harvesting the crops,
refining and transporting the ethanol
along with the disruption and increased
costs of our food supplies and the unknown
effect ethanol has on engines,
how can Congress and the EPA justify
such a program? Could it be the influence
of the lobbyists or unlimited campaign
contributions?
Sens. Jim Inhofe and Tom Coburn
have publicly opposed this increase. Let
us hope they can get enough political
support to get this program canceled
and find better ways to lessen our need
for foreign oil.
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