Ethanol won't solve our energy problems

Here they go again.

Big Oil and speculators were the cause of the last recession in this country, as well as the huge government bailout of the auto industry. At a time when the country and small industry were just beginning to recover from a recession, Big Oil and the American Coalition for Ethanol Production (with over 180 ethanol plants that produce 11 billion gallons of ethanol yearly) have now lost their massive government subsidies which, in turn, threatens the consumer with up to $5 a gallon for gas by summer.

Ethanol has also caused the price of milk, bread and our way of life to escalate. The consumer is also faced with the poor performance and low mileage their cars get as a result of using ethanol in these vehicles. We don’t have a choice in this matter. That’s not to mention the damage done to small engines like lawnmowers, snowblowers, chainsaws and boat motors, since ethanol can only be stored 30 days.

Billionaire oil man T. Boone Pickens said, “Ethanol is an ugly baby, but it’s ours and it will move cars.”

Shame on Washington and shame on our politicians for trying to solve our energy problem with ethanol. From the frying pan into the fire!

Robert Jonick
North Syracuse