What Was Really Important in 2010

Hoosier Ag Today
12/26/2010
By Gary Truitt

As the year comes to a close, news organizations large and small start posting The Most Important Stories of 2010. Being a student of history, I prefer to take a bit of a long view. Often what seems to be the biggest issue now may have very little importance a decade from now. So I would like to look back over 2010 and pick out a few events that are likely to have a significant impact down the road.

This year will be remembered as the year the government finally started getting serious about increasing ethanol use. After talking about alternative fuels for decades the EPA, rather reluctantly it seemed, approved an increase in the amount of ethanol in gasoline to 15%. While this move was more PR and practical because of the exceptions and limitations, nevertheless it was the beginning of real progress in moving our fuel tanks away from fossil fuels. While it will take many more years, at least the first steps have been taken down the road that will lead to the breaking of the monopoly that oil companies have on our fuel supply. In a decade from now, our vehicles will be able to run on a variety of energy sources; and, when we pull up to the pump, we as consumers will be able to chose what type and blend of fuel we want to put in our tanks.

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