Fined for flunking impossible fuel mandate

by Walter Olson on January 10, 2012

“When the companies that supply motor fuel close the books on 2011, they will pay about $6.8 million in penalties to the Treasury because they failed to mix a special type of biofuel into their gasoline and diesel as required by law. But there was none to be had. Outside a handful of laboratories and workshops, the ingredient, cellulosic biofuel, does not exist.” [Matthew L. Wald, New York Times; Kenneth Green, AEI]

{ 12 comments }

1 Richard Nieporent 01.10.12 at 7:45 pm

Next, Congress will repeal the law of gravity.

2 Smart Dude 01.10.12 at 7:49 pm

Harvey Silverglate estimates in his book Three Felonies a Day that the average American unwittingly commits 3 serious crimes per day.

This is the way that our democracy has been subverted into a soft tyranny.

And for a growing number of innocent Americans facing total ruin at the hands of the Permanent Government, anything but soft. The democrat party created most of this oppression. But where are the Republicans?

3 John Burgess 01.10.12 at 9:33 pm

@Smart Dude: Sadly, the Republicans are willing to go along in the expectation that when they get to write laws favoring positions/people they like, the Democrats will, in turn, go along.

Big Government Republicans? It’s a matter of taxonomy or cladistics or maybe just semantics to determine whether they’re actually conservative.

4 Walter Olson 01.10.12 at 9:37 pm

The awful fuel mandate at issue was enacted under the presidency of George W. Bush, and I believe with his support.

5 captnhal 01.11.12 at 7:48 am

How else is the government going to make up that multi-trillion dollar deficit?

6 No Name Guy 01.11.12 at 12:27 pm

Those that have committed no crime can not be coerced, period.

7 OBQuiet 01.11.12 at 7:44 pm

Not sure what you mean, No Name Guy. Other than that Government will make everything a crime in order to coerce everyone.

8 Smart Dude 01.11.12 at 11:04 pm

I am reminded of the exchange in the movie Edge of Darkness:

“But I can’t do that. It’s illegal in Massachusetts.”

“Everything is illegal in Massachusetts.”

9 David Schwartz 01.12.12 at 2:49 am

Next they’ll mandate that the oil companies mix in gryphon sweat and unicorn tears.

10 Jim Finkel 01.12.12 at 4:16 pm

wrt Unicorns, see this ad (Note the product is NOT in stock)

http://www.thinkgeek.com/caffeine/wacky-edibles/e5a7/

11 Ken Green 01.13.12 at 3:15 pm

Walter – You’re correct, as I point out in my post, the cellulosic ethanol stupidity was a Bush program.

Jim Finkel – I have a can of Unicorn meat on my desk at the office. It’s an excellent source of sparkles!

12 Christ on a Cracker 01.14.12 at 11:29 am

On a sort-of related note. Here in Denver, E85 ethanol/gasoline is now selling for the same price as 85-octane gas. Same money, lower mileage, but you Save The Planet.

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