Correct me if I'm wrong but there seems to be some confusion in this thread with regard to ethanol as a fuel or as an additive to reduce CO.
(1) Like MTBE, ethanol can be used as an additive to reduce CO emissions. Of course the ethanol does burn but I don't think that the % ethanol is as high as when it is used primarily as a fuel rather than as an additive.
(2) Of course ethanol can also be blended with gasoline and the mixture can be used as a fuel.
I think that it makes sense to use ethanol as an additive to reduce CO particularly in cities such as LA. I certainly prefer it to MTBE.
I haven't looked into it in detail but ethanol for fuel from corn seems to be as much about politics and subsidies for the farm belt as about good energy policy.
Hopefully ethanol from other bio-sources will make more sense in the future.
MB
