"In 1991, the California Air Resources Board (ARB) adopted rules for California Reformulated Gasoline (CaRFG2) which began implementation in 1996. The refiners in California selected MTBE as the oxygenate of choice to meet both the federal oxygen requirement and the CaRFG2 emissions requirements. The refineries selected MTBE over other oxygenates due to is availability, lower cost, high octane value, ability to dilute other harmful gasoline components, and good mixing and volatility properties."
Are the "Greenies" at fault or was MTBE the cheapest route?
The end for oil is coming(as a primary energy source) and oil companies are trying to figure out how to remain viable and still make huge profits in the future. I don't see them as the best group to be funding to find a replacement energy source. Think of the infrastucture they would have to develop and transfer from oil to whatever before they even bring a product to market!
There are other companies out there that are years ahead of these guys and would can only make money if their product succeeds on the open market where as big oil has less motivation to find the answer for what is already producing huge profits for them.
