But regular corn-based ethanol is unlikely to be the fuel choice of American motorists anytime soon--not least because only so much farmland can be devoted to growing corn for ethanol without denting food production.

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But much of the cynicism is centered on corn-based ethanol that some consider not just an inefficient fuel source but also one that also creates food shortages, driving up the cost of feed for livestock producers.

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Subsidised corn-based ethanol is therefore a nifty way of meeting America's mandatory fuel-economy requirements without having to invest billions in new technology.

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For example, how many gallons of water and fossil fuel does it take to produce and transport one gallon of corn-based ethanol?

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