A major spill in the open ocean dissipates in a matter of a day or two. Being water soluble spills are easily washed away.

The carcinogenic additives and combustion products of gasoline are far greater than with methanol.

Cleaner burning, with oxygen carried in its chemical structure means less particulate emissions also.

See ‘Beyond Oil and Gas: The Methanol Economy
George Olah (1996 Nobel Prize in Chemistry)

Methanol from Biomass is environmentally much friendlier than ethanol from food. Developing countries like India understand this - there being an incentive to growing trees and shrubs on marginal land.

The argument from the environmental benefits of keeping oil money out of the hands of Muslims and therefore their ability to build their institution of jihad trumps all these other reasons IMO.