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Ethanol is a clean-burning, high-octane fuel that is produced domestically from renewable sources. As an important
part of the U.S. economy, ethanol helps to increase farm revenues growth and reduce this country's dependence upon
foreign sources of energy.
Basically, ethanol is grain alcohol that has been produced from corn and other crops. Ethanol is blended with gasoline
for use in motor fuels. Ethanol blends can decrease fuel costs and harmful tailpipe emissions; and increase fuel octane ratings.
Ethanol is appearing at more pumps and in more locations every year. In 2004, about one third of all gas in the U.S. was an ethanol
blend. The most common ethanol/gasoline blends are:
E10 - 10% Ethanol / 90% Unleaded Gasoline
This most common blend of ethanol is approved for use in any make or model of vehicle sold in the U.S., with no modifications necessary to the engine.
E85 - 85% Ethanol / 15% Unleaded Gasoline
This alternative fuel is for use in flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs) - currently numbering more than 6 million on U.S. roads, with auto manufacturers
producing more each year. To accommodate this increase in the number of FFVs, more E85 pumps are available nationwide. Where E85 is not available,
FFVs can operate on straight gasoline or any ethanol blend up to 85%.
Performance
Auto manufacturers approve, and even recommend, fuel enriched with up to 10% ethanol for all cars. Flex-fuel vehicles are designed to run on E85
(85% ethanol and 15% gasoline) — the cleanest-burning, renewable fuel available today. By looking at your vehicle’s fuel cap, you can tell if
it's a flex-fuel vehicle — meaning it can run on regular gasoline, 10% ethanol-enriched fuel or E85. Fuel enriched with 10% ethanol is manufacturer-approved
for use in small engines, including power equipment, motorcycles, snowmobiles, and outboard motors. Ethanol is the highest-performance fuel on the market,
with an octane rating of 113 in its pure form. Ethanol-enriched fuel contains more oxygen — so it burns cleaner Fuel enriched with 10% ethanol burns cleaner,
helping to remove leave gummy deposits in the fuel system, so engines can run with optimal performance. Enriching fuel with 10% ethanol helps it to burn cleaner
and at a cooler temperature, which can add to engine longevity.
Environment
- Ethanol is a clean-burning, renewable fuel.
- E85 is the cleanest burning fuel available on the market today.
- 10% ethanol-enriched fuel reduces carbon monoxide better than any other gasoline — by as much as 30%.
- The use of 10% ethanol-enriched fuel reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 12 – 19% compared with conventional
gasoline, according to Argonne National Laboratory.
- Ethanol reduces tailpipe fine particulate matter emissions by 50%. These emissions pose a threat to those with
respiratory ailments.
- Ethanol is biodegradable, meaning it won't harm groundwater in the event of a spill.
American Made
- Ethanol is blended into almost 50% of the U.S. fuel supply, mostly as E10 and E85.
- Ethanol is made from crops grown in America, primarily corn and milo.
- Today there are more than 110 ethanol plants across the country.
- Ethanol replaces gasoline that would require the use of 600,000 barrels of oil a day.
- Last year, the United States produced over 4.8 billion gallons of ethanol.
- The U.S. ethanol industry supported the creation of over 160,000 jobs in all sectors of the economy in
2005, boosting household income by $6.7 billion.
You might choose fuel enriched with ethanol at the pump because you know it delivers great engine performance
and is gentler on the environment. Did you know that ethanol also plays a big part in boosting the American
economy? Ethanol production generates capital investment, economic development and job creation throughout
the U.S. it also boosts every family's personal economy by lowering the cost of gasoline to consumers.
Ethanol Production by the Numbers
- Provides more than 200,000 American jobs, directly and indirectly
- Adds more than $450 million to state tax receipts
- Reduces the U.S. trade deficit by $2 billion annually
- Increases net farm income by $4.5 billion
- Adds 30¢ to the value of every bushel of corn
The Power of Ethanol Production
- Increasing ethanol production to 5 billion gallons annually would:
- Create 214,000 jobs
- Generate $5.3 billion in new investment in renewable fuel production facilities
- Increase household income by $51.7 billion
Ethanol at the Pump.
- Reduces the consumer cost of gasoline by extending the supply
- Provides an alternative to costly imported oil
- Gives leverage to independent gasoline marketers competing against larger,
more powerful integrated oil companies
Each Ethanol Facility
- Expands the economic base of a community by $110 million
- Creates more than 30 new jobs directly; almost 700 indirectly
- Generates a boost of $140 million to the local economy
The Environment
The use of ethanol as a fuel additive improves the environment because its high level
of oxygen increases the efficiency of the combustion process, resulting in lower
emissions and higher air quality.
- The American Lung Association of Metropolitan Chicago credits ethanol-blended, reformulated
gasoline with reducing smog-forming emissions by 25% since 1990.
- Ethanol reduces tailpipe carbon monoxide emissions by as much as 30%.
- Ethanol reduces exhaust VOC emissions by 12%.
- Ethanol reduces toxic emissions by 30%.
- Ethanol reduces particulate emissions, especially fine-particulates that pose a health threat to children,
senior citizens, and those with respiratory ailments.
- Ethanol is widely used in the federal winter oxygenated fuels program and the reformulated gasoline
(RFG) program in cities that exceed public health standards for carbon monoxide and ozone pollution.
- Ethanol reduces carbon dioxide greenhouse gases by over 35% compared to gasoline.
- If all the gasoline in California were blended with ten percent ethanol today, the state would reduce CO2
emissions by 6.4 million tons per year compared to straight gasoline.
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