U Of Wisconsin Survey: 3 Of 4 Americans Favors Ethanol Use

By Tom Johnston on 11/2/2007 for Meatingplace.com

Despite agriculture’s skepticism about the feasibility of relying on renewable fuels to reduce America’s reliance on foreign fuels, the general public favors the idea of filling their gas tanks with corn-based ethanol and the like.

According to a recent survey, some 74 percent of Americans say the United States should increase domestic production of renewable fuels.

Those polled also said Washington should play a role in supporting such efforts. Eight-seven percent indicated the government should actively support the development of a renewable fuels industry, and 77 percent feel Congress should encourage oil refiners to blend more ethanol into their gasoline products.

Meantime, Americans don’t appear to believe that ethanol production is the root cause of an increase in food prices, with 84 percent saying there is something other than ethanol to blame. Higher oil prices (46 percent), increased global demand (15 percent) and poor weather conditions such as drought (14 percent) were cited over ethanol production (7 percent).

University of Wisconsin News Service, Nov. 8, 2007