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 Know
All About Ethanol
Astonish Your Friends
Answer Obscure Game Show Questions
Know All About Ethanol
Will ethanol raise the price of gasoline?
The net effect of blending ethanol with gasoline is normally
a product that costs less. A May 2005 report by the Consumer
Federation of America said that drivers everywhere would save
as much as 8 cents per gallon if petroleum marketers would
blend more ethanol into gasoline. While many predicted the
switch from MTBE to ethanol would increase gas prices, there
has been no negative impact on gasoline supplies or the cost
per gallon of gasoline. Ethanol is less expensive than other
additives. In fact, ethanol is usually less expensive than
ordinary gasoline.
Does ethanol add to air pollution?
Because ethanol-blended gasoline is cleaner than conventional
gasoline, it emits less hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, carbon
monoxide and hydrogen. Ethanol reduces carbon monoxide emissions
by as much as 25 percent. It reduces carbon oxide from 12
percent to 19 percent according to research completed by the
Argonne National Laboratory.
The United States Department of Agriculture recently determined
the net energy balance of ethanol production is 1.67 to 1.
For every 100 BTUS of energy used to make ethanol, 167 BTUs
of energy is produced. The USDA findings have been confirmed
by additional studies conducted at several universities and
government laboratories.
These studies take into account the energy required to plant,
grow and harvest the corn, as the energy required to manufacture
and distribute the ethanol. The net energy balance of ethanol
productions continues to improve because ethanol and corn
production are becoming more efficient. For example, one bushel
of corn now yields 2.8 gallons of ethanol, up from 2,5 gallons
just a few years ago.
Does ethanol production waste corn that could be used to
a feed a hungry world?
Corn used for ethanol production is field corn typically
used to feed livestock. Wet mill ethanol production facilities,
also known as corn refiners, product starch, corn sweeteners
and corn oil as well as ethanol from the same kernel of corn.
Ethanol only uses the starch, preserving the valuable proteins
available for processing into foods. Food vs. Fuel Debate
Does ethanol benefit farmers?
The ethanol industry opens new market for corn growers, allowing
them to enjoy greater profitability. Studies have shown that
corn prices in areas near ethanol plants tend to be 5 to 10
centers per bushel higher than in other areas. This additional
income helps cut the costs of farm programs and add vitality
to rural economics. The additional profit potential for farmers
created by ethanol production allows more farmers to stay
in business, helping insure adequate food supplies in the
future.
Ethanol production also creates jobs, many of which are in
rural communities where good jobs are hard to find. A 2005
study found the ethanol industry powered the U.S. economy
by creating more than 147,000 jobs, costing U.S. household
income by $4.4 million and reducing the U.S. trade deficit
by $5billion by eliminating the need to import 143 million
barrels of oil.
Does ethanol contribute global warming?
No. The energy balance of ethanol production is positive
with ethanol producing 30% more energy that is required to
make it. Further the Argonne National Laboratories demonstrated
that using ethanol reduces by 32 percent the emission of greenhouse
gases.
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