Flex Fuel Fight

The U.S. Department of Energy is looking into upping the amount of ethanol is your gasoline. Today most fuel at the pump can be assumed to contain 10% ethanol. This could rise to 15% if research  shows it will not damage vehicles, Reuters reported. What the automobile industry is really hitting the breaks on is a mandate that would require all cars to be compatible with E85. That is 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline.

In fight over flexfuel regulations no one seems to win

According to The Detroit News, after Energy Secretary Steven Chu mentioned that the E85 mandates were “beginning to be discussed” six law makers sent a letter voicing concerns on such a requirement. The letter cited a cost of over $1 billion a year in manufacturing costs and the fact that E85 is available very few gas stations as cause for surprise at such regulation.

“We firmly believe that the government should not be in the business of picking technology winners and losers, which would have a chilling impact on the development of other, potentially more beneficial, technologies in the future,” the letter said.

While I see the point of that statement I found it interesting since government subsidies have clearly paved the way for the automobile industry and made that the technology winner of transportation. Without oil, road and highway subsidies would we be so dependent on cars? The government provides tax breaks and credits for vehicles from Hummers to hybrids. Slate.com reported that “public spending on highways and streets is running at an annual rate of about $75 billion.”  Seems like the government already chose the winner and it’s not broke Amtrak.

Elizabeth Ulion is a graduate student at Northwestern University. She dreams of carless city centers – flex fuel or not.

Photo courtesy of post406/Flickr.