" I agree with stevew. Brazil has excess ethanol to export to the U.S., but there is a tariff on ethanol from Brazil since NAFTA favors Canada and Mexico. The ethanol produced from Brazil is made from sugar. Sugar produces more that twice the amount of Ethanol than corn. The U.S. Government gives tax breaks to big corporations to raise corn and gives tax breaks to Oil Companies to mix the Ethanol with gas. Big Business (oil and farming) along with the U.S. Government is screwing the U.S. taxpayer. Now under NAFTA, if Mexico or Canada produced the ETHANOL we would plenty of it for fuel.
It makes a person wonder who's side the elected officials of the U.S. are on. "

" This letter hits the spot correctly. What is happening is due to the fact that the (minority in this country) the environmentalists feel that this is the way to go and feel that if they dont get their way on their decisions, they will take things like this to court to make sure that it happens. I am not saying this has gone to court, but it could have, had something not been done. Ethanol is a good source that we can get energy from, and there are several different crops that can be used to produce ethanol. Why would they have chosen corn to be the crop that was used? Corn is a main staple of food around the world and is relied on heavily. The more corn that is taken of the table increases the price of other foods to go up. Look at the price of beef, poultry, and eggs. It has been increasing drastically. Corn is the main feed that is fed for cattle, and chickens. Due to the increase for the cost of corn, we are feeling the pinch at the grocery stores for it. Why would they have not chosen to use sugar-based ethanol instead? It is proven to work. Brazil uses sugar-based ethanol to power 97-percent of their energy needs. They only import 3-percent of oil for other needs. We as a country can use sugar to do this also and have to import no amount of oil. We would have plenty in our own stocks in the ground to supply our demand. There are such high tariffs on sugar being imported that it isnt done. Delete the tariffs for the sugar and import our supply of it. Lord knows, we as Americans need to put the sugar in our tanks instead of our body. Remember also, sugar doesnt have to come Kane; it can also come from sugar beets. Sugar beets are a very easy plant to grow and can grow in most areas. Ethanol can be made from it. Also, there should be some kind of subsidies to homeowners that feel that solar energy is the way to go. Just imagine, solar panels on every roof. No emissions from power plants. Just pure clean power. Another option would be to increase hydroelectric power. Why not build more dams? Place fish ladders in the dams so fish will be able to travel upstream and spawn. There are many options that we as Americans can take to help solve this energy problem, but unless all are joined together to fight the environmentalists, it isnt going to happen. "