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Ethanol 101

Ethanol offers the solution to fuel shortages, polluted air and depressed farm economies.   

Fuel ethanol is a high octane motor fuel derived from plants that can be safely used in virtually every engine platform today at varying levels. At more than 13 billion gallons of production, ethanol represents approximately 10% of the nation’s gasoline supply today and can be found in more than 96% of all gasoline sold.

The majority of American consumers are using E10 ethanol blends (10% ethanol) and E15 (15% ethanol) availability is rapidly increasing, especially in the Midwest. More than 13 million consumers driving Flex Fuel vehicles, or FFVs, can use any blend of ethanol from E10 up to E85 (85% ethanol).

Ethanol is part of our nation’s solution to reducing our dependency on imported oil, creating domestic jobs, cleaning our environment by reducing dangerous emissions caused by burning gasoline, and helping to improve engine performance by adding much needed octane.

Ethanol is increasingly becoming a global commodity. Global ethanol production and demand is trending up, with the U.S. now the world's top producer and consumer of ethanol, as well as a leading exporter.

Food, Feed and Fuel 

Modern ethanol production is about more than fuel.  Ethanol producers are providing increasing amounts of livestock feed products—distillers grains, corn gluten, and corn gluten meal—while simultaneously providing growing volumes of corn distillers oil and other bio-based chemicals to replace oil. Similar innovation is also occurring on American farms. New farming technologies and increased efficiencies are resulting in record and near record corn production each and every year. Despite facing the worst drought in 50 years, U.S. farmers produced the tenth-largest corn crop in history in 2012.

Approximately one third of every bushel of corn processed by an ethanol biorefinery returns to the livestock feed market in the form of distillers grains or corn gluten. In fact, USDA and university studies have shown these feed products carry greater nutritional value than the traditional feed ingredients they are replacing in beef, dairy, swine and poultry rations.

NASCAR sees improved engine performance with E15 use 

Leading the way in 2011, NASCAR launched its long-term biofuels program to reduce emissions of the fuel used in all its racing series. NASCAR’s three national touring series began using Sunoco Green E15, a renewable fuel blended with 15% American-made ethanol from American-grown corn. Sunoco, the Official Fuel of NASCAR, manufactures blends and transports this renewable, low-carbon fuel that emits 20% less greenhouse gas emissions than unleaded gas. After completing more than two million miles during NASCAR races using Sunoco Green E15, teams report an increase of up to 10+ horsepower. These reports validate the fuel qualities and environmental impact of ethanol as a fuel to the millions of NASCAR fans as well as the general American public.

The E15 Ethanol Blend

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved E15 as a blend choice for cars and light-duty trucks in model year 2001 and newer. It’s an option, not a mandate. The Department of Energy conducted six million miles of testing on E15 – the equivalent of 12 round trips to the Moon – and found no issues. NASCAR race cars have run more than 3 million miles on E15, and its drivers and mechanics give the fuel high marks for power and durability.

A full move to E15 would create a bigger market for American ethanol that could help create as many as 136,000 new jobs in the United States and eliminate as much as 8 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions from the air in a year — the equivalent of taking 1.35 million vehicles off the road. Increasing the domestic, renewable fuel supply would also displace some of the 7 billion gallons of oil that is imported every day into the United States from countries such as Venezuela, Saudi Arabia and Nigeria. 

Get the Facts: (click on title for PDF document)

bullet Introductory Backgrounder
This document clarifies how corn ethanol has little impact on retail food prices, helps bring down the cost of gasoline at the pump and benefits our domestic economy.
 
bullet U.S. Corn Industry Statistics
Even with the drought last year, corn farmers harvested 11 billion bushels, the tenth largest crop on record, providing for another crop with surplus corn. See the latest figures from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
 
bullet A Tale of Two Corns
Most American consumers don’t realize the key differences between field and sweet corn, and why 99% of corn grown is not the kind you’ll find at your local farmer’s market.
 
bullet Using Technology to Feed and Fuel the World
New technologies are allowing U.S. corn farmers to produce substantially more corn per acre of land in a sustainable way, thus helping to meet growing demand for food and fuel.
 
bullet Top Ten Myths about Corn and Ethanol
This one-page document exposes the top ten myths about corn and ethanol. 
 
bulletFor more information:
bullet Fast Facts
bullet GoE85
bullet American Coalition for Ethanol
bullet Nascar
bullet Renewable Fuels Association

 

 
 
 
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