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Yes I would, if I could. Then we could tell the people in the mid-west countries "exactly" what they could do with their oil, and it's not nice.

Here's the problem with Ethanol - E85 only produces 72% of the energy that gasoline does. So it may be 40 cents or 13% cheaper per gallon, but you will need 40% more of it. So if your car is getting 30mpg on gas, it will get 21.6 on ethanol. I can't imagine there will be droves of people lining up to pay even more for fuel than they are now.

Your numbers are suspect, JH. Here in Minnesota, we know a lot about E85 (our 330+ E85 outlets will sell more than 20 million gallons this year). You should have also noted that gasoline has less energy than diesel, and offers fewer miles per gallon. So should we forget about gasoline as well as E85?

First, a primer: ethanol fuel is sold in two forms: E10 (10% ethanol) gasoline, which any vehicle can use and E85, which can be used only by flex-fuel vehicles (6 million on the road today).

See more at this American Lung Association website: www.CleanAirChoice.org

I'd definetly use ethanol if I could. It's cleaner and reduces dependency on foreign oil. Sounds like a no-brainer. I'm sure there are some downsides, but overall, I'm for it. (Thanks for the link, Bob.)

It makes me angry when I find out that the government is holding up progress regarding alternative fuels. If General Motors (of all companies!) is ready to go green, let's not give them an excuse to revert back to the "good old days."

Bob - You failed to mention which of my numbers are suspect. Diesel engines are more expensive to produce, so in the end they cost consumers more money. If you could buy a diesel car for the same price as gas, you would see many more on the road.

Take a look at this site.

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/byfueltype.htm

In order for me to use e85 I would have to sell my 34 mpg honda accord and start driving a chevy impala that would get 21mpg on e85. I think I will pass on that one.

Do I think e85 is better for the ecomony- yes, but I am not going to drive by 3 gas stations to pay more for fuel than I am paying today. If it becomes a cheaper alternative to gas I will buy it.

Regardless of what government websites, agencies and fuel producing companies might say, diesel engines are not more expensive to produce and maintain - IN THE LONG RUN. Your up-front cost may be a bit higher for the vehicle or generator but looking 20 years down the road, and many, many hours and miles on the engine, you have been paid back.

Diesel itself has had its price way inflated by the oil companies, and why, if the original concept was fueled by peanut oil, are we gladly burning up petroleum based products?

Ok, so argue that you can't get the performance you want out of vegetable oil based fuel, and all the other arguments that go in that vein, but in the end, all we really want is locomotion, right? And a cleaner environment.

No, I would not burn ethanol, for exactly the reasons JH specified and the fact that its still gasoline based as a fuel.

I would and will prefer diesel.

Once there are more ethanol distilleries around the Carolinas the price of E85 will go down making it worth the switch. Once it becomes more readily available you will begin seeing vehicles built to take advantage of the increased octane rating of E85 and the MPG gap will narrow.

I do not feel that ethanol is the fuel for the future, but it is a huge step in the right direction that will allow us to use modify instead of replace the distrobution system and vehicles we all drive.

Once more people use it the process for converting vehicles to run on either gasoline or E85 will come down. Last time I worked it up it would be around $1000 to convert my Mustang to run either. If E85 sells for the same as 87 I could save around $0.30 a gal ( I have to run premium)and the mod would pay for itself in 2 yrs or so. But if NC is like other states with ethanol plants and E85 is much less than 87 it will be a better deal