Mileage (mpg) Using Ethanol Seen 20% Higher Than EPA Says - Bloomberg

[Bill USA]

81. obtuse arguments ignoring realities of starting a new product or integrated product delivery system

"If E85 is so economical, why doesn't an ethanol company open up an E85 station of its own."

YOu are affecting ignorance as to the enormous costs of going into a separate industry - retailing a new fuel while operating the production facilities. Any business involved in growing its production operation isn't going to take on another whole task of setting up retailers at the same time. Big Oil started buying up retail outlets in the last couple of decades but that was after almost 100 years of operating the manufacturng/refining end of the business. Finally, in mid 1980s when they paid Congress to pass a low allowing them to integrate vertically they then began buying the pesky independent reatailers. The obvious benefit is to have tighter contro over pricing the product.

... also the Government made a decision that it would be more efficient to employ the already existing infrastructure for distributing fuel for light transportation than build a seperate infrastructure costing billions. THis would also be much much quicker way of making the new fuel available to buyers.

... 'You just posted link after link to studies telling me that ethanol makes gas cheaper. Wouldn't consumers be clamoring for E10? '

THe lowering of the price of gas is not apparent as we can't run reality for the last ten years - without ethanol - and then back up time and rerun reality with ethanol being in the mix. People do not have way of seeing what the price would be with ethanol present and with ethanol not present.

"Why does this surprise you. Burger King doesn't sell the Big Mac, does it?"

The oil companies are supplying a commodity - fuel to run autombiles and trucks. IF an alternative commodity is available it should be able to compete with other commodities (gasoline from petroleum) . Just as Microsoft was taken to court for not making browsers other that Internet Explorer readily availalbe to those who bought PCs. If Microsoft did not make these other browsers as available to consumers of their computer operaing system this is considered a restraint of trade. THus, Big Oil should make competing fuels available. THat's for E85. For blending the Government forced the issue on the basis that the ethanol was needed to bring down GHG emissions from automobiles and light trucks.