Ethanol detractors are looking backwards. We need to look to the future. To cheaper fuel, to more jobs, to cleaner air and lower Greenhouse gases than gasoline can ever bring us.
They do not understand that modern vehicles are largely already manufactured to handle moderate blends of ethanol (like E15, E20). Making them fully compatible with E85 costs very little. GM, Ford and Chrysler have committed to manufacturing half of their output as Flex Fuel. But, even though these vehicles will be E85 capable, they are designed, to be dumbed down to run on gasoline as their default. They don't make use of the ethanol put into them. These same people are most likely aware that racing cars, like the NASCARs, are designed and tuned around ethanol. Ethanol can deliver greater performance than gasoline because it has higher octane. We American's need to look forward to the day when auto companies enable us to enjoy the benefits of the higher performance possible using the higher octane in ethanol, as well as the benefit mentioned above. Ethanol can alternatively provide more performance, or provide better gas mileage. We need to encourage manufacturers to stop dumbing down our cars to run on carcinogen loaded gasoline, and pass the valve of ethanol out the tailpipe.
This will take a three pronged approach:
First establishing a distribution system, the pumps and dispensers, the trucks and pipelines (Brazil has done it). We already have E10, so moving to E15 on our way to E30 where the real benefits can be felt, is the natural path. Blender pumps can circumvent the need for refinery cooperation, but their cooperation will be welcomed.
Second, we need the auto companies to make and warrantee all vehicles to be Flex Fuel and program them to take advantage of the presence of ethanol for whatever ethanol/gasoline blend is in the tank of your car. The onboard computers are already more than powerful enough, the manufacturers just need to program them.
Third, we need to encourage the already very significant progress in making ethanol from non-food substances, and energy crops. Science and technology has it relentless pace, and we are seeing, this year, the first commercial cellulosic ethanol refineries come on-line. These make ethanol from wastes like corn husks and wood chips, and cellulosic heavy energy crops. (Political timetables and the progress of science are different - should anybody be surprised!) But, as you are aware, once technology gets it's feet on the ground, it moves quickly (look at computers!). So, it is reasonable that in ten years these refineries will be a major part of the world's fuel picture. Big oil knows it, and is fighting a 'holy war' to stop it. But they can't win the war, no more so than the jihadist can. They can only cost us money and slow us down if we let them.
Let's look forward and move into the future. And not be stopped by a stumble or two. We can take control of our lives: our heath, our jobs, and our enjoyment. We don't want big oil, which gave us the lead, (yes lead, decades after they knew it was dumbing-down so many of us and our children), then MTBE and presently benzene, to win this war.