A while back folks here tried to tell us Methanol was a bad solution to the gasoline economy because it's had a materials handling warning something like this:

DANGER! FLAMMABLE LIQUID AND VAPOR. HARMFUL OR FATAL IF SWALLOWED. HARMFUL IF INHALED. CAUSES IRRITATION TO SKIN, EYES AND RESPIRATORY TRACT. AFFECTS CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM.

...but I took that off the MSDS for gasoline!

Anyway NPR Science Friday had Nobel Laureate George Olah on today and I agree with him. Methanol is a good solution to the gasoline problem as it covers most of the need using coal and other readily available sources which doesn't pivot on our ability to grow grasses or store a gas under extreme pressures.

Besides it can be readily converted to polymers and plastics.