Ethanol Gas and Electric Powered Vehicles Worse for Environment than Gas Powered

Uh-oh. Oregon's ethanol mandate (ORS 646.913) and maybe a third of its electric car use cause worse environmental damage than conventional gas powered cars. So says a new study published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Electricity produced by coal is worse for the environment than conventional gasoline. Turns out a third of Oregon's electricity is produced by coal.

Oregon Department of Energy graphic

Worse, turns out the ethanol mandate requiring 10% ethanol (E10) in all* gas sold in Oregon passed in 2007 (HB 2010, Section 18) actually harms the environment more than regular gas. This was bipartisan stupidity. In the Oregon House and Senate votes only 7 Oregon legislators voted against it. But, for the record, all 7 of those were Republicans:

Sens. Jeff Kruse, R-Roseburg, Roger Beyer, R-Molalla, Larry George, R-Hillsboro
Reps. Linda Flores, R-Clackamas, Kim Thatcher, R-Keizer, Susan Morgan, R-Myrtle Creek, Wayne Scott, R-Oregon City

Also, for the record, two better known Oregon Democrat figures voted for increased ethanol pollution. They are now U.S. Reps. Suzanne Bonamici and Kurt Schrader.

All Oregon Democrats and most Oregon Republicans just listen to whatever they are told especially by environmental groups. No careful investigation or waiting for the science, just do what feels good at the time. The people and the environment pay for that shallowness.
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*SB 1079, Section 4 passed in 2008 fixed a big problem by allowing vehicles which don't run well on E10 like aircraft, antique vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, racing vehicles, snowmobiles, tools, and watercraft exemption from the E10 requirement.