Beware of Ethanol

Proponents of ethanol tell us that it can significantly reduce our dependence on oil for transportation fuel. Truthfully, I never gave it much thought one way or the other.

Since our experience with it on our recent road trip, I have paid more attention to what I read, and in a recent "Parade" magazine article, it states: Since 2005, U.S. energy policy has mandated that billions of gallons of corn-based ethanol be mixed into gas every year. Last year, more than $3 billion of taxpayer money was spent on subsidies to achieve that goal, and 20% of the corn crop went into making the biofuel. Now, a new U.N. report cites our emphasis on ethanol as a contributor to high food prices. Scientists also believe than an expanding "dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico, which is killing aquatic life, is caused by increased fertilizer runoff from Corn Belt states."

Now...my only purpose here is to warn you that it's important to know if you are getting ethanol in your gasoline and/or how much. We had been averaging about 28-29mpg in my new Honda CRV. Not great, but we can live with that. One time, 32 mpg, another 34. Not bad. So, on one long stretch through Northwestern Oklahoma, off the interstate highways, we had 340 miles to cover that day before reaching our destination. No problem. However, this just happened to be an area where there were few tiny towns and NO gas stops, and no cell phone reception. We were becoming increasingly concerned as the gas gauge headed for empty. We made it to our destination with about one-half gallon to spare (22.5mpg).

When we later mentioned to people we met along the way, they quickly added, "Oh yeah, you get 30% less mileage." This effectively adds $1.25/gallon for the mileage traveled.

While I'm a rather adventurous person, that's one scenario I'm glad we didn't have to play out.