Rob, for starters - we don't have enough refineries in this country....the last one as far as i know, was built in the mid 70s. if the refining capacity decreases or remains stagnant for that matter, while demand outpaces supply...one thing is for sure gasoline's future remains bright.
I am for alternative sources of energy such as wind or solar power however, not ethanol. I think ethanol to begin with... is just hype and does not equate imo to a sound energy policy. (not that we ever had one in first place). It is damaging to the evnrmnt more so than gasoline. Politicians love the idea of ethanol since by subsidizing it they will get the farmers votes . US Automakers promote it because 'flex fuel' cars are the only one area where they have some superiority over their rivals in Japan....but even without these minuses i just mentioned, the simple fact of ethanol having no potential to drastically impact oil consumption makes it insignificant to consider it as an alternative.....it's quite expensive too producing it......one gallon of ethanol consumes more than four times the energy of producing one gallon of gasoline.
