When a Midwest refinery had a problem, it took several weeks for suppliers outside the region to change their formulas and meet demand. A Congress controlled by Democrats, with the consent of President George W. Bush's father. In 1990, as part of the Clean Air Act amendments that year, Congress mandated that 10 metropolitan areas with air quality problems begin using reformulated gasoline to clean their air. Part of the mandate was that the reformulated fuels contain 2 percent oxygen content by weight. That was a good deal for corn producers.
Corn is the source for one of the key oxygenates, ethanol.
But the requirement hasn't been so good for the environment or for consumers socked with higher gasoline prices. MTBE, the most common oxygen additive, has seeped into groundwater where it becomes a toxic, long lasting pollutant. Meanwhile, ethanol, according to a 1999 National Academy of Sciences report, actually may increase the level of ozone-polluting chemicals. Finally, the oxygenates reduce gas mileage, increasing pollution and raising costs to drivers. If Democrats were really serious about environmentally friendly energy production, they would go after the Bush program for not seeking the elimination of that scientifically suspect oxygenate rule.