[quote=CopperJP;182095]Beyond the lower energy content of ethanol, readers should also consider the use of oil in creating and transporting the ethanol (almost equaling what is being "saved") in addition to the financial ramifications - ethanol is artificially driving up the cost of corn (good for corn farmers, bad for anyone with livestock to feed - and bad for a good portion of the third world who relies on corn as a major food staple). Increased ethanol use had increased US and global food prices about 3-5% in the last year alone (per the EPA) - not great for inflation in our already precarious economic position.
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Good grief! Ethanol is made out of field corn. We don't eat field corn. For each bushel of field corn used: (2.8 gal of ethonal and 18 lbs, or about 1/3 of a bushel, of distillers grain is produced in an average ethanol plant. Distillers grain has more calories, energy and is easier for a cow to digest then corn. In 2007, the United States produced more corn than ever, made more ethanol than ever and exported more corn than ever! How much corn is in a box of Corn Flakes? Not much when you compare it to the bushel of corn. Blaming ethanol production for significant increases in the 10 cents worth of corn in the Corn Flakes does not make sense. It is likely the sky rocketing cost of oil plays a larger role in food costs than ethanol.

2005 AWD Escape Hybrid
Best Interstate tank trip MPG 39.02 (scangauge II) for 402 miles on I-70, 10.3 gallons used over mostly flat terrain. Aug. 2007

Best Interstate tank trip E30 MPG 34.6 for 271 miles along I-80 in Indiana and Ohio. May 2008

Best multiple road tank trip E30 MPG 36.2 for 202 miles in Southwestern Pa. July 2008.