I actually enjoyed putting gas in my truck yesterday. Until now there was nowhere to get E-85 in West Frankfort but a new station has opened up and provides that opportunity. It felt good to think that I might be helping the environment or a farmer. Here’s what would feel even better. What if I could start a movement? What if began a campaign to end our dependency on foreign oil and possibly on oil in general? What if we kick started our economy with a new industry and new jobs? Could this movement become a reality?
Brazil has been doing this. They have a mandatory 20-25% ethanol blend rate and have traditionally exported way more ethanol that it imports. How refreshing this is? Government support of an industry that generates $48 billion annually, supports 1.2 millions jobs, and then makes financial commitments to boosting the ability of farmers to grow sugar-cane (this is what they make ethanol with). Brazil is the world’s second largest producer of ethanol behind the United States, yet we are not driven by ethanol. With all the corn our fertile land will give us, ethanol has always been an afterthought for us.
Instead we are only dreaming of an ethanol revolution due in part to a huge oil and gas lobby in our government. Leading the way is Exxon Mobil but the more interesting figure is that recent campaign spending from oil companies was significantly lower during the George Bush years. The oil friendly president carried out the plan making this domination of oil companies possible. Spending increased dramatically when Obama was elected, a more liberal president who might have his own ideas.
I think if we want to fulfill our dream of a Brazilian style fill up, we need to start voting with our dollars. That’s what oil companies do. Start buying E-85 and help drive this market. We could create our own revolution that will impact the quality of life for our kids and their kids. Maybe I’m a dreamer.
http://www.txchnologist.com/2012/sweet-gas-is-brazilian-sugar-cane-ethanol-ready-for-the-world
http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/indusclient.php?id=E01
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