Open Diff: Ethanol alternatives, and is it really bad?

In my recent post about potential E15 gasoline you had the opportunity to sound off about why you don’t like the stuff. In with those comments, there were also some interesting suggestions on how to address the issue. So now, I’m asking you two questions: Is there really a problem, and what do we do about it?

To paraphrase T. Boone Pickens, I’m for anything American when it comes to energy. The same nation of innovators, doers and thinkers that came up with these cars in the first place unquestionably has the ability both to come to grips with our energy needs, and to ensure there’s a way for us to enjoy old cars.

First, however, I’d like to see some compelling evidence that there is a problem. There’s no shortage of anecdotal evidence that ethanol is bad for old cars, and I have my own stories, but I want to hear from you about specific incidences that you feel are directly attributable to ethanol in gasoline.

Then, let’s hear some suggestions that don’t include “Shut down the EPA.” How about working within this scenario: You are in charge, and you have to do two things. One, use less oil. Forget about domestic reserves; that’s not the point. Two, you have to reduce carbon emissions. Again, forget about what you believe; you’re in charge, and this is what you have to do. I’ll even give you a budget, I’ll call it the American Energy Initiative and it’ll have access to the same funds that Wall Street did – $4.5 trillion. That should get you started.

You’ve got the power, and you’ve got the money. Do you have the answers?