Question: Do you fill your car’s tank with gasoline that is part
cellulosic ethanol, an environment-friendly distillate of wood chips,
corn cobs, and switch grass? Let me answer for you: No, you don’t. You
couldn’t if you wanted to. Petroleum products blended with cellulosic
ethanol aren’t commercially available, because the technology for
mass-producing cellulosic ethanol hasn’t been perfected. None of which
has stopped the Environmental Protection Agency from imposing hefty
yearly fines on oil refiners. According to the
The New York Times,
in 2011 automotive fuel producers were assessed $6.8 million in
penalties. That amount is expected to climb dramatically this year.
Guess who ends up footing the bill for the difference?
Do read the whole thing, and remember this when someone says that the EPA protects the environment.
