Because of trending declines in gasoline demand, refiners aren't making enough fuel to match the amount of ethanol the government mandates they must add to their blends. As a result, the price on special dispensations, called Renewable Identification Numbers or RINs, to get around the requirements began to climb.

Plus, the AP's Dina Cappiello and Adam Goldman had a blockbuster report this week on how the government's renewable fuels push has created all sorts of horrible unintended environmental consequences, including polluting drinking supplies and wiping out habits.