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Surprising Science

Al Gore Recants on Ethanol

The former vice president said that corn ethanol was a “mistake.” He went further, saying that he supported ethanol production because the first presidential primary is in Iowa.
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For three decades, the ethanol industry has been claiming that their hydrophilic, corrosive, low-heat-content fuel is cutting America’s need for foreign oil. Indeed, the ethanol lobbyists cited the foreign oil bogeyman in their Tuesday letter to Congressional leaders, saying “The volumes of ethanol produced domestically have been uniquely successful in reducing our dependence on foreign, imported oil.” Perhaps we should be thankful that Gore has finally seen the light on ethanol and dared to state the obvious: corn alcohol-based fuel is a bad idea.

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