Ethanol is a renewable fuel source that serves as an eco-friendly alternative to petroleum or diesel fuel. Manufacturers make ethanol from organic materials called biomass, which include corn, sugar cane, grasses and cellulose wood fibers. According to the American Council for Ethanol, a blend of 10 percent ethanol to 90 percent unleaded gas can power almost any standard vehicle. Blends with higher ethanol concentrations are designed for special "flexible-fuel vehicles." Ethanol offers a number of benefits over traditional fuel sources, including reduced pollution and conservation of non-renewable resources.
Reduced Emissions
When fossil fuels are burned for energy, they produce harmful fumes known as greenhouse gases. These gases increase pollution and contribute to global warming, which has far-reaching environmental effects for all living things on earth. According to the Department of Energy, corn-based ethanol offers a 52 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared with petroleum, while cellulose-based ethanol reduces emissions by up to 86 percent. These low levels of emissions produced by ethanol are largely offset by plant growth. Biomass products, including corn and cellulose, release carbon dioxide as they grow, which helps to offset the environmental impact of carbon emissions from burning these fuels.
Less Dependence on Foreign Oil
Approximately 60 percent of fossil fuels used in the United States are imported from foreign countries, according to the Department of Energy. This heavy dependence on foreign oil supplies puts the country at risk for trade deficits, price volatility and supply disturbances. The products used in ethanol are found in large quantities within the United States, so there is little need for foreign imports. Ethanol represents a more stable fuel supply with steady pricing and less volatility.
Conserve Fossil Fuels
The Department of Energy estimates that two-thirds of energy used for transportation in the United States comes from fossil fuels, including gasoline and diesel fuel. Fossil fuels are derived from plant and animal remains that date back millions of years. This means these fuels are non-renewable, and when supplies run out, people will be forced to turn to alternative fuel sources. According to the Energy Information Administration, the world's oil and diesel supplies will only last through the end of the 21st century if demand stays constant. Because ethanol is derived from renewable biomass, there is no limit to how long supplies will last. Increased ethanol use will help conserve the world's limited fossil fuel supplies, and will reduce the economic shock of dwindling oil supplies and rapidly rising prices over time.
Environmental Benefits
Oil spills typically cause devastating environmental effects to water, land, plants and animals. Because ethanol is largely plant based, it poses far less risk to the ecosystem during an emergency. According to the Department of Energy, a 3.2 million gallon ethanol spill in 2004 quickly dissipated and caused no threat to life or the environment.
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