Well you got half of it right. It is the lobbyists. The Southeast is a prime sugar cane growing area. Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana are also the poorest region in the 48. They could be swimming in ethanol dollars. Sugarcane produces magnitudes more ethanol per acre than corn. If Brasil can do it there is no reason they couldn’t. In many fueling stations in Brazil there is a pure ethanol option along with gas and diesel. Pure ethanol has lower energy density, aka less miles per gallon, but it also costs a lot less. You have to refuel more often, but at a lower cost. Just like EVs. Except refueling times are akin to gas and diesel instead of the longer charging time for EVs.