One thing I predict that will happen after this MTBE to Ethanol
conversion, is that it'll make ethanol free gas *more* available to
areas not required to have oxygenated gasoline. Basically in areas
where CO pollution level is low. (see
http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/steo/pub/special/oxy2.html)

The reason is simple economics. Those metro areas where ethanol is
mandated either by federal regulation or state law have put a great
demand on ethanal, causing its (already subsidized) wholesale price to
exceed gasoline by more than 50c a gallon. Because ethanol must be
blended into gasoline at the terminal facility, no oil company in their
right mind will try to blend ethanol into gasoline unless it's
absolutely mandated.

For states who are contemplating ethanol blending laws this market
phenomenon should give them pause. In the long run it'll also pierce
the fallacy of ethanol being a practical replacement for gasoline in
this country. Too bad it will take the suffering of about 1/4 of the
country to make this happen.


John wrote:
To those who fly with STCs for motor fuel instead of avgas, is the
phase-out of MTBE affecting you? The federal government hasn't banned
MTBE outright (some individual states have) but will not protect oil
companies from MTBE lawsuits so MTBE is being phased out by next week in
most places. MTBE isn't the issue here, but ethanol is. Ethanol will
be replacing MTBE as an oxygenate and is also being promoted as a
(heavily subsidized) renewable energy mixed with gasoline. MTBE is
under political attack because it has been found in ground water where
gasoline has leaked from tanks.

(Apparently gasoline, benzene, toluene, naphthalene, ethanol, and other
pump gasoline ingredients don't bother people as much when they leak
from the same gasoline tanks, but that is understandable since the human
body can smell or taste MTBE in fare more quantities in drinking water
than these other carcinogenic contaminants.)

Many or most aircraft mogas STCs prohibit gasoline containing ethanol
due to its tendency to attack certain seals, gaskets, and parts in
aircraft fuel tanks, fuel systems, and engines. So for those of you who
use motor fuel in airplanes, is the lack of motor gasoline that doesn't
contain ethanol becoming a problem?

By the way ethanol contains less energy per gallon than gasoline. Enjoy!