Ethanol ineffective as energy solution

Why is there an Energy Department? Since it was created, the cost of fuels has risen without increasing our basic fuel supply. The administration constantly reiterates that the country is too reliant on foreign oil.

So the moronic solution to our energy situation has been to stop oil drilling in the Gulf and many areas of the continental U.S. Recently articles were seen in the news media that we are using less gasoline. The government increased ethanol subsidies, which will further water down the gasoline. They want to increase ethanol from 10 percent to 20 percent per gallon, which will destroy the engines on most autos already on the road. Also, less gasoline, more ethanol equals a higher price at the pump.

The side effect is that corn prices are soaring not just from ethanol production but also from the use of corn syrup in food production. The higher price of corn for human consumption is also showing up in livestock feed, which increases the price of meat and dairy products in food stores.

At first glance ethanol seemed to be a viable solution. However, where is the oversight on the negative aspects of this energy conundrum? Feeding our people is more important than focusing on a green ideology. In the name of climate protection, politicians are subsidizing unproven green technologies. China already produces and sells wind turbines to us cheaper than we can produce them. So now what happens to all the green jobs that were promised?

Politicians are throwing away our tax dollars on new technologies while the country sinks deeper in debt. Inflation can be seen in higher fuel and food prices. Sooner or later it will extend to everything. When will politicians wake up and put a stop to this nonsense?

Wayne Oras Sr.

Schaumburg