The bigger issue is the is something that is inherent to using a gas/alcohol mix:
inaccurate mix by tanker truck drivers
when the E-10 change over started here in 2004 or so, samples were tested and many had more than 10%. That combined with the cleansing effect of ethanol caused big problems in older fuel systems.
But yes bringing our energy industry back to where it was in the 1970s was a horrible move of poor judgment and a lack of standing up for what just makes sense. I am old enough to remember
"energy shortage" #1, 1973/1974 this was NO shortage, it was pure political hostage taking to retaliate for our backing our ally in the middle east
"energy shortage" #2, 1979, the Shah of Iran is deposed, more politically induced problems, again no shortage
in college they made us read a book called "The Limits to Growth" (circa 1974) they predicted that we'd be out of oil by about 1985.
anybody remember what happened about then? gas prices dropped from about $1.50 a gallon to about .85
So much for predictions, and the accuracy of the media's take on things.