Here’s an interesting idea first brought to my attention by Maui Time contributor Rob Parsons: what if oil companies had to reveal the source of their fuel, similar to the way food, clothing and other consumer products are labeled?
To be fair, Rob didn’t come up with the idea. It’s being trumpeted by Growth Energy, an ethanol advocacy group headed by former presidential candidate Wesley Clark. “The American people deserve to know more about the gasoline they purchase every day—where it comes from and where their hard-earned dollars ultimately go every time they fill up their cars and trucks,” said Clark in a September press release. “Requiring country of origin labeling of our fuel supply will empower consumers with the knowledge and ability to make informed decisions.”
Though many experts say ethanol is at best a stopgap and at worst a resource-diverting, Midwest farmer-placating waste—calling into question Growth Energy’s central mission—the idea of drivers being forced to read the words “Saudi Arabia” as they fill their gas-guzzlers is intriguing to say the least.
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