I can't say it's a total mistake, but it's time to start making it from fermenting all the organic material that's wasted while farming rather then food crops like corn and sugar cane.
It seems to me that nearly anything organic can be fermented, sure you may get more from the corn itself then the stalks, but the corn can feed people or animals, what's left of the plant is currently useless, but it can become fuel.
Ethanol must be determined safe in each vehicle. I know of at least a couple boats where gas that contained ethanol ended up softening plastic tanks which leaked, the boats were totalled by fire. Numerous leaking boats have needed repairs.
Likewise biodiesel's known to soften certain kinds of gasket material, some really big diesel engines in boats have required almost complete overhauls because of using biodiesel.
My point is we need to both find better ways of making the fuels, we also must identify what can safely use it, and what cannot. Finally we must make it clear when we're getting biofuels, and when were not. If you don't know your car, boat, plane, etc is suited to a biofuel, don't use it until you're sure.
Gary |
