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What better way to make flex fuel vehicles and E85 (corn-based ethanol) more hip than by taking several YouTube clips, stirring in some Facebook, MySpace, a Napoleon Dynamite-esque aesthetic and, finally, for good measure a good dollop of Ben Affleck dressed in a corn suit (seriously, just watch it)? Narrated by Phin (who looks suspiciously like a certain silent protagonist), this series of videos, dubbed "Clean My Ride, Flex My Fuel," aims to raise awareness about our (still) shoddy fuel emissions standards and the energy bill that is being debated in the Congress.
Here's what the "Clean My Ride" guys think should be done:
"This is a good start, but the bill still needs provisions to take on the really big stuff - increasing gas mileage requirements and mandating the availability of e85 for flexible-fuel cars that can use either gasoline or ethanol. These tough solutions will slash oil use and slow global warming.To increase energy independence and stop global warming, the House should do what the Senate did: increase mileage standards to 35 mpg by 2020. This would save 1.2 million barrels of oil per day in 2020, save consumers at least $25 billion, and reduce dependence on foreign oil.
The House should also require a certain portion of service stations to sell e85 to replace oil-based gasoline with corn-based ethanol."
Two videos are already up with another four to come in the next few days. Boasting an all-star cast featuring other such "luminaries" as Matt Damon, Jennifer Garner and Jason Biggs, "Clean My Ride" hopes to urge viewers to act by writing to their congressmen and demanding change. Because if watching Ben Affleck in a corn suit won't make you do it, what will?
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Ethanol is a problem: it's only going to increase production of corn and direct further subsidies to the monolithic agro-industrial complex that is currently ruining our food supply.
The NYT says:
"Corn-based ethanol can only marginally reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil. But it does little, if anything, to improve energy efficiency, and the mounting concern of some politicians is that relying on corn is leading to collateral damage in other parts of the agricultural economy and threatening the nation’s status as the leading corn exporter. The big increase in the works may mean consumers would end up paying more at the supermarket."
Carrie, you're absolutely right. Corn-based ethanol is definitely one of the worst sources of renewable energy we could rely on (I've often talked about it over at TreeHugger, my other gig), and I have to say that I was disappointed to not see the "Clean My Ride" guys promote other alternatives over it (like geothermal energy, cellulosic ethanol, etc).
I guess the only real benefit of the campaign would be to (hopefully) bring younger, less informed social networking/Facebook users into the eco-conscious fold and put pressure on Congress to revise the disappointing energy bill.
SWEET! Treehugger! I like you. :)
I'm doing some research on the Farm Bill, so maybe we can keep this conversation going soon....
Sure thing! We should chat some more: I've covered the farm bill before and have been trying to keep up with all the recent amendments and new subsidies.
I dunno, personally I think its good they are drawing attention to the issue. Plus, Affleck in a corn suit is funny. I dont think it would be very easy to find a "geothermal energy" suit.