Ethanol or Gasoline

    In discussions of alternative energy vehicles, much focus is given to battery power, solar power, fuel cells, and hybrid vehicles.  Often overlooked is the age-old fuel known as ethanol or ethyl alcohol.  Ethanol has been used in a limited capacity in combustion engines.  Ethanol has an average octane rating of 110 compared with gasoline's 87, 89, or 93.  Before continuing, I'd like to clarify that I am not a strong opponent of the petroleum industry.  Gasoline has taken the world in directions that no one thought possible.  What's more is that many of the other chemicals found in gasoline (benzene, toluene, xylene, etc.) have become important chemical building blocks and solvents.  However, as times change and we find that we can fulfill our energy needs in other ways, I believe that we should investigate them.
    Ethanol is produced from biomasses, mainly corn, thus it is easily replenished and a much cleaner fuel than gasoline.  It seems so simple.   Plant, harvest, process, use....plant, harvest, process, use.  A very nice cycle that is easily repeated.  With gasoline, the cycle will eventually be disrupted because the oil reserves cannot be replenished as can biomasses.  The usual, obvious question is: "Why aren't we using ethanol everywhere instead of gasoline?"   Unlike many problems, the barrier in this case is not an engineering problem or a basic law of nature.
    If one had to explain what the problem is in one word, it would be "POWER".  Not the type of power measured in kilowatts, but legislative power.  In numerous ways, ranging from limitations of penalties to powerful alliances, the petroleum companies extend their power deep into the law making process.   Legislation is not all one-sided in this matter.  Significant tax incentives are given to ethanol producers as well as to petroleum companies.  Only when one of two things happens will ethanol really come into the spotlight; there is a major legislative power swing or there simply is no more oil.  In defense of legislators, their job is to deal with problems currently facing the world.  To expect legislators to become heavily involved in the future of the world (especially in science) has historically been an unrealistic expectation....unless large sums of money are involved.

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