Fast facts about Ethanol

by Bob Huffman

April 8th, 2008

Energy Balance

While E85 gets 20 to 25 percent fewer miles per gallon compared to gasoline, it is less expensive than gasoline in most parts of the country and has 96 octane compared with 87 octane for regular unleaded gasoline.  Premium gasoline has less octane than E85 and sells at a higher price.  

Cleaner Cities

Ethanol does not require more energy to produce than it delivers as a fuel.  According to the Argonne National Laboratory, the “net energy balance” of making fuel ethanol from corn yields about one-third more energy for automotive fuel than is used to grow the grain. And the USDA says next-generation cellulosic ethanol produced from switch grass generates 540 percent more energy than consumed in production. Think about these facts: 

• Corn ethanol reduces GHG (Greenhouse Gases)  by 18-29 percent while cellulosic ethanol yields 85-86 percent reduction per gallon.
• The average GHG from cellulosic ethanol derived from switch grass are 94 percent lower than estimated GHG from gasoline.
• The use of 6.5 billion gallons of ethanol in the United States during 2007 resulted in the reduction of GHG by approximately 10 million tons. 
• E85 alone contributes to a 20 percent reduction in ozone-forming pollution and a 30 percent reduction in GHG.

 Reducing Oil Dependence 

In 2007, according to the Renewable Fuels Association, the production and use of ethanol in the U.S. reduced oil imports by 228 million barrels, saving $16.5 billion from being sent to foreign countries. By 2030, enough biomass could be produced using existing farmland to reduce oil consumption by 30 percent. 

 Support Infrastructure

•  There are more than 1,520 E85 ethanol fueling stations in the U.S.
• Working with government, fuel providers and fuel retailers, GM has helped usher in more than 300 E85 fueling pumps at stations in 15 states and the District of Columbia since 2005.

Public Support

•  A 2007 Harris Interactive poll shows that 88 percent of U.S. adults agree the nation should pursue the development of homegrown, renewable energy sources such as ethanol.
• More than half of adults, or 54 percent, strongly support such development of domestic alternative energy sources.
• 74 percent of Americans want to see increased use of renewable fuels.
• 87 percent believe active support of the federal government should go toward developing the renewable fuel industry, while 77 percent support congressional action to encourage oil refiners to blend more ethanol into their products.