Ethanol now accounts for some 8 percent of Minnesota's transportation fuels. The half dozen existing ethanol plants could double to 12 in two years if the tax incentives keep pace with the industry's expansion. Sometimes oil companies argue that ethanol is bad for the environment. It is a hard argument to make because it flies in the face of common sense. Ethanol blends can reduce the overall toxicity of gasoline by 25 percent.
Ethanol reduces climate-altering greenhouse gases.
And unlike oil spills, ethanol spills are not an environmental hazard. Given that ethanol is liquor, I sympathize with those who think it is too good for our cars. But I'm taken aback by the oil companies' claim that cars are too good for ethanol. Your car is more likely to be harmed by the remarkable variations in ordinary gasoline than by ethanol. Since 1990 GM has recommended ethanol blended fuels for its cars.