I heard on NPR this morning that there is legislation in the works that would require that ethanol be available in 25% of the gas stations in the US in the next several decades. I was shocked to hear this, because it seemed painfully slow.

Iowa is the nation's leading ethanol producer, and 10% ethanol is common place here, and is the lowest cost gasoline option at most stations. E85 (85% ethanol) is becoming more readily available, is usually about 20 cents a gallon cheaper and can only be used in Flex Fuel vehicles. E85 burns cleaner and therefore is supposed to be better for the environment. Now I hear about straw based E85, which is being produced in Canada, and doesn't require fossil fuels to power the plant like corn based ethanol does.
Hydrogen powered cars are becoming more of a reality it seems and hybrids are more popular than a couple of years ago.

My disappointment is that it is expected to take DECADES for E10 to be in only 25% of US gas stations.

I realize that developing things takes time, but I don't think that the planet can really wait DECADES for cleaner fuel sources. If it is simply an issue of money, the oil companies worrying about losing too much money, why don't they pour some of their resources into alternative, cleaner fuel sources? Get in on the ground floor and they can still be plenty rich when the focus shifts off of fossil fuels. Is it just that old habits die hard?

If this thinking of keeping the stauts quo, fossil fuel based energy for familiarity and profits sake, makes sense to someone, could you please explain it to me? I just don't get it. <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />