introduction to ethanol

How does foreign ethanol
impact the UNITED STATES?
HOW IS ETHANOL BETTER THAN
OIL IN THE LONG RUN?
Is ethanol practical
on a large scale?
Introduction to Ethanol:
Frequently Asked Questions
Other countries have growing biofuel industries
that have helped them become more energy
independent. The U.S. has placed a tariff on
imported ethanol to help foster our own energy
independence and to offset a U.S. tax credit,
called the blender’s credit, that benefits
foreign suppliers.
Why not just use Brazilian ethanol?
Brazil has successfully become energy
independent thanks to ethanol made from
sugar cane that flourishes in their tropical
environment. They even make enough ethanol
to export some of it to other countries. Because
energy is so important to our national security,
the tariff on imported ethanol ensures that our
own ethanol industry can continue to grow,
innovate and keep creating much-needed jobs
for Americans here at home. Why would we
want to trade a dependence on foreign fuel
with another? By using American ethanol,
we never have to make that compromise.
Ethanol is a renewable resource. It’s made
from plants, while oil is drilled from reserves
deep underground that will eventually run
out. As our planet’s oil reserves decrease and
oil supplies need to come from sources like
tar sands and oil shale, the price will only
increase, as will the environmental damage.
Ethanol has become a viable energy solution
at just the right time – ready to replace that
disappearing oil. It also helps with another
global problem – climate change. Today,
the greenhouse gas emissions from ethanol
are as much as 59 percent lower than
gasoline, and improving constantly with
new technology and practices.
Does ethanol reduce our reliance on
foreign oil?
Yes. The U.S. ethanol industry out-produces
many foreign suppliers of gasoline from crude
oil, including Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and
Mexico. By using more ethanol, we can reduce
our reliance on potentially volatile nations.
Yes. In fact, ethanol is not only practical, it
could profoundly change our energy security.
Cellulosic ethanol, which uses technology
built from the corn ethanol platform, can be
made out of any plant matter, including
agricultural waste. The technology could
help regions all over the world become
energy independent.
What’s stopping us from using more ethanol?
In the U.S. we have a regulatory cap on
ethanol that limits the standard blend at 10
percent ethanol and 90 percent gas. But since
recent studies have indicated that cars will run
on higher blends, all we need to do is raise the
regulatory cap to start using more ethanol.
Additionally, if all new vehicles sold in the
U.S. were flex fuel, any blend of ethanol and
gasoline could be used, giving consumers
more choices and further reducing our need
for foreign energy.
Ethanol is more than a fuel. It’s a solution.
Learn more at GrowthEnergy.org.
Washington, D.C.
202.545.4000
GrowthEnergy.org
DrivingEthanol.org
EthanolRetailer.com
GrowthForce.org
PT-US-0063
What is ethanol?
Ethanol is a renewable fuel made from plants.
It is currently found in almost all gasoline
in America. Ethanol is a natural, non-toxic
alcohol that burns clean and reduces
greenhouse emissions by as much as
59 percent. It’s made in America, in rural
farming areas all across the country.
Does ethanol work in my car?
All cars made after 1980 can run on blends
of E10 or higher. Newer cars called flex fuel
vehicles – or FFVs – are designed to run on
any blend up to 15 percent gasoline and
85 percent ethanol, called E85. Most auto
makers have flex fuel models, and the cost
difference is negligible. You may already
have an FFV and not even know it.
Where does it come from?
Ethanol is made from crops and other plant
material grown right here in the U.S. Most
is currently made from field corn, but new
technologies are allowing ethanol to be made
from other materials such as switchgrass,
wood chips and agricultural waste.
Standard corn ethanol uses the starch in the
corn kernel – the rest of the proteins and
nutrients are saved and used as a valuable
livestock feed called distillers grains.
How efficient is it?
Ethanol has been known to slightly improve
gas mileage. It has a high octane rating – 113
– and improves performance while keeping
your engine clean. Ethanol also contains
67 percent more energy than it takes to
produce, so it’s efficient for your car and for
the environment.
Is ethanol good for the
environment?
How does the ethanol
industry help our economy?
Ethanol has had almost no impact on the
price of food at the supermarket. In fact,
while corn prices have steadily decreased,
food prices have increased and stayed at
high levels. Nearly 96 percent of the hike
in food prices can be attributed to price
speculation, drought and a weak U.S. dollar.
Other factors influencing high food prices
include costs for labor, transportation,
advertising and packaging.
Ethanol is made from a renewable resource
– plants – making it a sustainable fuel that
we’ll never run out of. It burns clean and
reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up
to 59 percent from “well to wheel,” helping
to make the air cleaner for all of us. It also
reduces our need for foreign oil – by 661,000
barrels a day – saving resources used for
transportation and reducing the risk of
harmful oil spills.
Today, America has the capacity to produce
up to 12 billion gallons of ethanol every year,
at more than 170 plants across the country.
These plants are mostly in rural communities,
where they provide many high-tech, wellpaying, much-needed green jobs, adding
millions of dollars to local and state revenue.
Where did the “Food vs Fuel” debate
come from?
While many other renewable energy options
are still on the drawing board, today’s ethanol
works in the cars we already have and reduces
tailpipe emissions by 30 percent.
Is ethanol causing
high food prices?
In 2007, the big food companies launched a
public relations campaign against biofuels
– especially ethanol. They claimed that
ethanol was creating a higher demand for
corn, which was making the food they sell
more expensive. Around the same time,
food prices at the grocery store skyrocketed.
Corn prices, however, began to drop, proving
them wrong. Their argument was based on
outdated information and faulty logic.
How much water is required for
ethanol production?
Ethanol and gasoline use a similar amount
of water for production – about 3 gallons of
water for every gallon. In fact, a 40 million
gallon per year ethanol plant uses roughly
the same amount of water on a daily basis
as an 18-hole golf course.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy,
every billion gallons of American ethanol
produced will create 10,000 to 20,000 jobs
that can never be outsourced.
What effect does ethanol have on our gross
domestic product (GDP)?
In 2007, the ethanol industry contributed
$47.6 billion to the nation’s GDP, created
more than 200,000 jobs and generated an
estimated $4.6 billion in tax revenue for the
federal government.
What is ethanol?
Ethanol is a renewable fuel made from plants.
It is currently found in almost all gasoline
in America. Ethanol is a natural, non-toxic
alcohol that burns clean and reduces
greenhouse emissions by as much as
59 percent. It’s made in America, in rural
farming areas all across the country.
Does ethanol work in my car?
All cars made after 1980 can run on blends
of E10 or higher. Newer cars called flex fuel
vehicles – or FFVs – are designed to run on
any blend up to 15 percent gasoline and
85 percent ethanol, called E85. Most auto
makers have flex fuel models, and the cost
difference is negligible. You may already
have an FFV and not even know it.
Where does it come from?
Ethanol is made from crops and other plant
material grown right here in the U.S. Most
is currently made from field corn, but new
technologies are allowing ethanol to be made
from other materials such as switchgrass,
wood chips and agricultural waste.
Standard corn ethanol uses the starch in the
corn kernel – the rest of the proteins and
nutrients are saved and used as a valuable
livestock feed called distillers grains.
How efficient is it?
Ethanol has been known to slightly improve
gas mileage. It has a high octane rating – 113
– and improves performance while keeping
your engine clean. Ethanol also contains
67 percent more energy than it takes to
produce, so it’s efficient for your car and for
the environment.
Is ethanol good for the
environment?
How does the ethanol
industry help our economy?
Ethanol has had almost no impact on the
price of food at the supermarket. In fact,
while corn prices have steadily decreased,
food prices have increased and stayed at
high levels. Nearly 96 percent of the hike
in food prices can be attributed to price
speculation, drought and a weak U.S. dollar.
Other factors influencing high food prices
include costs for labor, transportation,
advertising and packaging.
Ethanol is made from a renewable resource
– plants – making it a sustainable fuel that
we’ll never run out of. It burns clean and
reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up
to 59 percent from “well to wheel,” helping
to make the air cleaner for all of us. It also
reduces our need for foreign oil – by 661,000
barrels a day – saving resources used for
transportation and reducing the risk of
harmful oil spills.
Today, America has the capacity to produce
up to 12 billion gallons of ethanol every year,
at more than 170 plants across the country.
These plants are mostly in rural communities,
where they provide many high-tech, wellpaying, much-needed green jobs, adding
millions of dollars to local and state revenue.
Where did the “Food vs Fuel” debate
come from?
While many other renewable energy options
are still on the drawing board, today’s ethanol
works in the cars we already have and reduces
tailpipe emissions by 30 percent.
Is ethanol causing
high food prices?
In 2007, the big food companies launched a
public relations campaign against biofuels
– especially ethanol. They claimed that
ethanol was creating a higher demand for
corn, which was making the food they sell
more expensive. Around the same time,
food prices at the grocery store skyrocketed.
Corn prices, however, began to drop, proving
them wrong. Their argument was based on
outdated information and faulty logic.
How much water is required for
ethanol production?
Ethanol and gasoline use a similar amount
of water for production – about 3 gallons of
water for every gallon. In fact, a 40 million
gallon per year ethanol plant uses roughly
the same amount of water on a daily basis
as an 18-hole golf course.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy,
every billion gallons of American ethanol
produced will create 10,000 to 20,000 jobs
that can never be outsourced.
What effect does ethanol have on our gross
domestic product (GDP)?
In 2007, the ethanol industry contributed
$47.6 billion to the nation’s GDP, created
more than 200,000 jobs and generated an
estimated $4.6 billion in tax revenue for the
federal government.
What is ethanol?
Ethanol is a renewable fuel made from plants.
It is currently found in almost all gasoline
in America. Ethanol is a natural, non-toxic
alcohol that burns clean and reduces
greenhouse emissions by as much as
59 percent. It’s made in America, in rural
farming areas all across the country.
Does ethanol work in my car?
All cars made after 1980 can run on blends
of E10 or higher. Newer cars called flex fuel
vehicles – or FFVs – are designed to run on
any blend up to 15 percent gasoline and
85 percent ethanol, called E85. Most auto
makers have flex fuel models, and the cost
difference is negligible. You may already
have an FFV and not even know it.
Where does it come from?
Ethanol is made from crops and other plant
material grown right here in the U.S. Most
is currently made from field corn, but new
technologies are allowing ethanol to be made
from other materials such as switchgrass,
wood chips and agricultural waste.
Standard corn ethanol uses the starch in the
corn kernel – the rest of the proteins and
nutrients are saved and used as a valuable
livestock feed called distillers grains.
How efficient is it?
Ethanol has been known to slightly improve
gas mileage. It has a high octane rating – 113
– and improves performance while keeping
your engine clean. Ethanol also contains
67 percent more energy than it takes to
produce, so it’s efficient for your car and for
the environment.
Is ethanol good for the
environment?
How does the ethanol
industry help our economy?
Ethanol has had almost no impact on the
price of food at the supermarket. In fact,
while corn prices have steadily decreased,
food prices have increased and stayed at
high levels. Nearly 96 percent of the hike
in food prices can be attributed to price
speculation, drought and a weak U.S. dollar.
Other factors influencing high food prices
include costs for labor, transportation,
advertising and packaging.
Ethanol is made from a renewable resource
– plants – making it a sustainable fuel that
we’ll never run out of. It burns clean and
reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up
to 59 percent from “well to wheel,” helping
to make the air cleaner for all of us. It also
reduces our need for foreign oil – by 661,000
barrels a day – saving resources used for
transportation and reducing the risk of
harmful oil spills.
Today, America has the capacity to produce
up to 12 billion gallons of ethanol every year,
at more than 170 plants across the country.
These plants are mostly in rural communities,
where they provide many high-tech, wellpaying, much-needed green jobs, adding
millions of dollars to local and state revenue.
Where did the “Food vs Fuel” debate
come from?
While many other renewable energy options
are still on the drawing board, today’s ethanol
works in the cars we already have and reduces
tailpipe emissions by 30 percent.
Is ethanol causing
high food prices?
In 2007, the big food companies launched a
public relations campaign against biofuels
– especially ethanol. They claimed that
ethanol was creating a higher demand for
corn, which was making the food they sell
more expensive. Around the same time,
food prices at the grocery store skyrocketed.
Corn prices, however, began to drop, proving
them wrong. Their argument was based on
outdated information and faulty logic.
How much water is required for
ethanol production?
Ethanol and gasoline use a similar amount
of water for production – about 3 gallons of
water for every gallon. In fact, a 40 million
gallon per year ethanol plant uses roughly
the same amount of water on a daily basis
as an 18-hole golf course.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy,
every billion gallons of American ethanol
produced will create 10,000 to 20,000 jobs
that can never be outsourced.
What effect does ethanol have on our gross
domestic product (GDP)?
In 2007, the ethanol industry contributed
$47.6 billion to the nation’s GDP, created
more than 200,000 jobs and generated an
estimated $4.6 billion in tax revenue for the
federal government.
What is ethanol?
Ethanol is a renewable fuel made from plants.
It is currently found in almost all gasoline
in America. Ethanol is a natural, non-toxic
alcohol that burns clean and reduces
greenhouse emissions by as much as
59 percent. It’s made in America, in rural
farming areas all across the country.
Does ethanol work in my car?
All cars made after 1980 can run on blends
of E10 or higher. Newer cars called flex fuel
vehicles – or FFVs – are designed to run on
any blend up to 15 percent gasoline and
85 percent ethanol, called E85. Most auto
makers have flex fuel models, and the cost
difference is negligible. You may already
have an FFV and not even know it.
Where does it come from?
Ethanol is made from crops and other plant
material grown right here in the U.S. Most
is currently made from field corn, but new
technologies are allowing ethanol to be made
from other materials such as switchgrass,
wood chips and agricultural waste.
Standard corn ethanol uses the starch in the
corn kernel – the rest of the proteins and
nutrients are saved and used as a valuable
livestock feed called distillers grains.
How efficient is it?
Ethanol has been known to slightly improve
gas mileage. It has a high octane rating – 113
– and improves performance while keeping
your engine clean. Ethanol also contains
67 percent more energy than it takes to
produce, so it’s efficient for your car and for
the environment.
Is ethanol good for the
environment?
How does the ethanol
industry help our economy?
Ethanol has had almost no impact on the
price of food at the supermarket. In fact,
while corn prices have steadily decreased,
food prices have increased and stayed at
high levels. Nearly 96 percent of the hike
in food prices can be attributed to price
speculation, drought and a weak U.S. dollar.
Other factors influencing high food prices
include costs for labor, transportation,
advertising and packaging.
Ethanol is made from a renewable resource
– plants – making it a sustainable fuel that
we’ll never run out of. It burns clean and
reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up
to 59 percent from “well to wheel,” helping
to make the air cleaner for all of us. It also
reduces our need for foreign oil – by 661,000
barrels a day – saving resources used for
transportation and reducing the risk of
harmful oil spills.
Today, America has the capacity to produce
up to 12 billion gallons of ethanol every year,
at more than 170 plants across the country.
These plants are mostly in rural communities,
where they provide many high-tech, wellpaying, much-needed green jobs, adding
millions of dollars to local and state revenue.
Where did the “Food vs Fuel” debate
come from?
While many other renewable energy options
are still on the drawing board, today’s ethanol
works in the cars we already have and reduces
tailpipe emissions by 30 percent.
Is ethanol causing
high food prices?
In 2007, the big food companies launched a
public relations campaign against biofuels
– especially ethanol. They claimed that
ethanol was creating a higher demand for
corn, which was making the food they sell
more expensive. Around the same time,
food prices at the grocery store skyrocketed.
Corn prices, however, began to drop, proving
them wrong. Their argument was based on
outdated information and faulty logic.
How much water is required for
ethanol production?
Ethanol and gasoline use a similar amount
of water for production – about 3 gallons of
water for every gallon. In fact, a 40 million
gallon per year ethanol plant uses roughly
the same amount of water on a daily basis
as an 18-hole golf course.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy,
every billion gallons of American ethanol
produced will create 10,000 to 20,000 jobs
that can never be outsourced.
What effect does ethanol have on our gross
domestic product (GDP)?
In 2007, the ethanol industry contributed
$47.6 billion to the nation’s GDP, created
more than 200,000 jobs and generated an
estimated $4.6 billion in tax revenue for the
federal government.
What is ethanol?
Ethanol is a renewable fuel made from plants.
It is currently found in almost all gasoline
in America. Ethanol is a natural, non-toxic
alcohol that burns clean and reduces
greenhouse emissions by as much as
59 percent. It’s made in America, in rural
farming areas all across the country.
Does ethanol work in my car?
All cars made after 1980 can run on blends
of E10 or higher. Newer cars called flex fuel
vehicles – or FFVs – are designed to run on
any blend up to 15 percent gasoline and
85 percent ethanol, called E85. Most auto
makers have flex fuel models, and the cost
difference is negligible. You may already
have an FFV and not even know it.
Where does it come from?
Ethanol is made from crops and other plant
material grown right here in the U.S. Most
is currently made from field corn, but new
technologies are allowing ethanol to be made
from other materials such as switchgrass,
wood chips and agricultural waste.
Standard corn ethanol uses the starch in the
corn kernel – the rest of the proteins and
nutrients are saved and used as a valuable
livestock feed called distillers grains.
How efficient is it?
Ethanol has been known to slightly improve
gas mileage. It has a high octane rating – 113
– and improves performance while keeping
your engine clean. Ethanol also contains
67 percent more energy than it takes to
produce, so it’s efficient for your car and for
the environment.
Is ethanol good for the
environment?
How does the ethanol
industry help our economy?
Ethanol has had almost no impact on the
price of food at the supermarket. In fact,
while corn prices have steadily decreased,
food prices have increased and stayed at
high levels. Nearly 96 percent of the hike
in food prices can be attributed to price
speculation, drought and a weak U.S. dollar.
Other factors influencing high food prices
include costs for labor, transportation,
advertising and packaging.
Ethanol is made from a renewable resource
– plants – making it a sustainable fuel that
we’ll never run out of. It burns clean and
reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up
to 59 percent from “well to wheel,” helping
to make the air cleaner for all of us. It also
reduces our need for foreign oil – by 661,000
barrels a day – saving resources used for
transportation and reducing the risk of
harmful oil spills.
Today, America has the capacity to produce
up to 12 billion gallons of ethanol every year,
at more than 170 plants across the country.
These plants are mostly in rural communities,
where they provide many high-tech, wellpaying, much-needed green jobs, adding
millions of dollars to local and state revenue.
Where did the “Food vs Fuel” debate
come from?
While many other renewable energy options
are still on the drawing board, today’s ethanol
works in the cars we already have and reduces
tailpipe emissions by 30 percent.
Is ethanol causing
high food prices?
In 2007, the big food companies launched a
public relations campaign against biofuels
– especially ethanol. They claimed that
ethanol was creating a higher demand for
corn, which was making the food they sell
more expensive. Around the same time,
food prices at the grocery store skyrocketed.
Corn prices, however, began to drop, proving
them wrong. Their argument was based on
outdated information and faulty logic.
How much water is required for
ethanol production?
Ethanol and gasoline use a similar amount
of water for production – about 3 gallons of
water for every gallon. In fact, a 40 million
gallon per year ethanol plant uses roughly
the same amount of water on a daily basis
as an 18-hole golf course.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy,
every billion gallons of American ethanol
produced will create 10,000 to 20,000 jobs
that can never be outsourced.
What effect does ethanol have on our gross
domestic product (GDP)?
In 2007, the ethanol industry contributed
$47.6 billion to the nation’s GDP, created
more than 200,000 jobs and generated an
estimated $4.6 billion in tax revenue for the
federal government.
How does foreign ethanol
impact the UNITED STATES?
HOW IS ETHANOL BETTER THAN
OIL IN THE LONG RUN?
Is ethanol practical
on a large scale?
Introduction to Ethanol:
Frequently Asked Questions
Other countries have growing biofuel industries
that have helped them become more energy
independent. The U.S. has placed a tariff on
imported ethanol to help foster our own energy
independence and to offset a U.S. tax credit,
called the blender’s credit, that benefits
foreign suppliers.
Why not just use Brazilian ethanol?
Brazil has successfully become energy
independent thanks to ethanol made from
sugar cane that flourishes in their tropical
environment. They even make enough ethanol
to export some of it to other countries. Because
energy is so important to our national security,
the tariff on imported ethanol ensures that our
own ethanol industry can continue to grow,
innovate and keep creating much-needed jobs
for Americans here at home. Why would we
want to trade a dependence on foreign fuel
with another? By using American ethanol,
we never have to make that compromise.
Ethanol is a renewable resource. It’s made
from plants, while oil is drilled from reserves
deep underground that will eventually run
out. As our planet’s oil reserves decrease and
oil supplies need to come from sources like
tar sands and oil shale, the price will only
increase, as will the environmental damage.
Ethanol has become a viable energy solution
at just the right time – ready to replace that
disappearing oil. It also helps with another
global problem – climate change. Today,
the greenhouse gas emissions from ethanol
are as much as 59 percent lower than
gasoline, and improving constantly with
new technology and practices.
Does ethanol reduce our reliance on
foreign oil?
Yes. The U.S. ethanol industry out-produces
many foreign suppliers of gasoline from crude
oil, including Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and
Mexico. By using more ethanol, we can reduce
our reliance on potentially volatile nations.
Yes. In fact, ethanol is not only practical, it
could profoundly change our energy security.
Cellulosic ethanol, which uses technology
built from the corn ethanol platform, can be
made out of any plant matter, including
agricultural waste. The technology could
help regions all over the world become
energy independent.
What’s stopping us from using more ethanol?
In the U.S. we have a regulatory cap on
ethanol that limits the standard blend at 10
percent ethanol and 90 percent gas. But since
recent studies have indicated that cars will run
on higher blends, all we need to do is raise the
regulatory cap to start using more ethanol.
Additionally, if all new vehicles sold in the
U.S. were flex fuel, any blend of ethanol and
gasoline could be used, giving consumers
more choices and further reducing our need
for foreign energy.
Ethanol is more than a fuel. It’s a solution.
Learn more at GrowthEnergy.org.
Washington, D.C.
202.545.4000
GrowthEnergy.org
DrivingEthanol.org
EthanolRetailer.com
GrowthForce.org
PT-US-0063
How does foreign ethanol
impact the UNITED STATES?
HOW IS ETHANOL BETTER THAN
OIL IN THE LONG RUN?
Is ethanol practical
on a large scale?
Introduction to Ethanol:
Frequently Asked Questions
Other countries have growing biofuel industries
that have helped them become more energy
independent. The U.S. has placed a tariff on
imported ethanol to help foster our own energy
independence and to offset a U.S. tax credit,
called the blender’s credit, that benefits
foreign suppliers.
Why not just use Brazilian ethanol?
Brazil has successfully become energy
independent thanks to ethanol made from
sugar cane that flourishes in their tropical
environment. They even make enough ethanol
to export some of it to other countries. Because
energy is so important to our national security,
the tariff on imported ethanol ensures that our
own ethanol industry can continue to grow,
innovate and keep creating much-needed jobs
for Americans here at home. Why would we
want to trade a dependence on foreign fuel
with another? By using American ethanol,
we never have to make that compromise.
Ethanol is a renewable resource. It’s made
from plants, while oil is drilled from reserves
deep underground that will eventually run
out. As our planet’s oil reserves decrease and
oil supplies need to come from sources like
tar sands and oil shale, the price will only
increase, as will the environmental damage.
Ethanol has become a viable energy solution
at just the right time – ready to replace that
disappearing oil. It also helps with another
global problem – climate change. Today,
the greenhouse gas emissions from ethanol
are as much as 59 percent lower than
gasoline, and improving constantly with
new technology and practices.
Does ethanol reduce our reliance on
foreign oil?
Yes. The U.S. ethanol industry out-produces
many foreign suppliers of gasoline from crude
oil, including Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and
Mexico. By using more ethanol, we can reduce
our reliance on potentially volatile nations.
Yes. In fact, ethanol is not only practical, it
could profoundly change our energy security.
Cellulosic ethanol, which uses technology
built from the corn ethanol platform, can be
made out of any plant matter, including
agricultural waste. The technology could
help regions all over the world become
energy independent.
What’s stopping us from using more ethanol?
In the U.S. we have a regulatory cap on
ethanol that limits the standard blend at 10
percent ethanol and 90 percent gas. But since
recent studies have indicated that cars will run
on higher blends, all we need to do is raise the
regulatory cap to start using more ethanol.
Additionally, if all new vehicles sold in the
U.S. were flex fuel, any blend of ethanol and
gasoline could be used, giving consumers
more choices and further reducing our need
for foreign energy.
Ethanol is more than a fuel. It’s a solution.
Learn more at GrowthEnergy.org.
Washington, D.C.
202.545.4000
GrowthEnergy.org
DrivingEthanol.org
EthanolRetailer.com
GrowthForce.org
PT-US-0063
How does foreign ethanol
impact the UNITED STATES?
HOW IS ETHANOL BETTER THAN
OIL IN THE LONG RUN?
Is ethanol practical
on a large scale?
Introduction to Ethanol:
Frequently Asked Questions
Other countries have growing biofuel industries
that have helped them become more energy
independent. The U.S. has placed a tariff on
imported ethanol to help foster our own energy
independence and to offset a U.S. tax credit,
called the blender’s credit, that benefits
foreign suppliers.
Why not just use Brazilian ethanol?
Brazil has successfully become energy
independent thanks to ethanol made from
sugar cane that flourishes in their tropical
environment. They even make enough ethanol
to export some of it to other countries. Because
energy is so important to our national security,
the tariff on imported ethanol ensures that our
own ethanol industry can continue to grow,
innovate and keep creating much-needed jobs
for Americans here at home. Why would we
want to trade a dependence on foreign fuel
with another? By using American ethanol,
we never have to make that compromise.
Ethanol is a renewable resource. It’s made
from plants, while oil is drilled from reserves
deep underground that will eventually run
out. As our planet’s oil reserves decrease and
oil supplies need to come from sources like
tar sands and oil shale, the price will only
increase, as will the environmental damage.
Ethanol has become a viable energy solution
at just the right time – ready to replace that
disappearing oil. It also helps with another
global problem – climate change. Today,
the greenhouse gas emissions from ethanol
are as much as 59 percent lower than
gasoline, and improving constantly with
new technology and practices.
Does ethanol reduce our reliance on
foreign oil?
Yes. The U.S. ethanol industry out-produces
many foreign suppliers of gasoline from crude
oil, including Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and
Mexico. By using more ethanol, we can reduce
our reliance on potentially volatile nations.
Yes. In fact, ethanol is not only practical, it
could profoundly change our energy security.
Cellulosic ethanol, which uses technology
built from the corn ethanol platform, can be
made out of any plant matter, including
agricultural waste. The technology could
help regions all over the world become
energy independent.
What’s stopping us from using more ethanol?
In the U.S. we have a regulatory cap on
ethanol that limits the standard blend at 10
percent ethanol and 90 percent gas. But since
recent studies have indicated that cars will run
on higher blends, all we need to do is raise the
regulatory cap to start using more ethanol.
Additionally, if all new vehicles sold in the
U.S. were flex fuel, any blend of ethanol and
gasoline could be used, giving consumers
more choices and further reducing our need
for foreign energy.
Ethanol is more than a fuel. It’s a solution.
Learn more at GrowthEnergy.org.
Washington, D.C.
202.545.4000
GrowthEnergy.org
DrivingEthanol.org
EthanolRetailer.com
GrowthForce.org
PT-US-0063
How does foreign ethanol
impact the UNITED STATES?
HOW IS ETHANOL BETTER THAN
OIL IN THE LONG RUN?
Is ethanol practical
on a large scale?
Introduction to Ethanol:
Frequently Asked Questions
Other countries have growing biofuel industries
that have helped them become more energy
independent. The U.S. has placed a tariff on
imported ethanol to help foster our own energy
independence and to offset a U.S. tax credit,
called the blender’s credit, that benefits
foreign suppliers.
Why not just use Brazilian ethanol?
Brazil has successfully become energy
independent thanks to ethanol made from
sugar cane that flourishes in their tropical
environment. They even make enough ethanol
to export some of it to other countries. Because
energy is so important to our national security,
the tariff on imported ethanol ensures that our
own ethanol industry can continue to grow,
innovate and keep creating much-needed jobs
for Americans here at home. Why would we
want to trade a dependence on foreign fuel
with another? By using American ethanol,
we never have to make that compromise.
Ethanol is a renewable resource. It’s made
from plants, while oil is drilled from reserves
deep underground that will eventually run
out. As our planet’s oil reserves decrease and
oil supplies need to come from sources like
tar sands and oil shale, the price will only
increase, as will the environmental damage.
Ethanol has become a viable energy solution
at just the right time – ready to replace that
disappearing oil. It also helps with another
global problem – climate change. Today,
the greenhouse gas emissions from ethanol
are as much as 59 percent lower than
gasoline, and improving constantly with
new technology and practices.
Does ethanol reduce our reliance on
foreign oil?
Yes. The U.S. ethanol industry out-produces
many foreign suppliers of gasoline from crude
oil, including Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and
Mexico. By using more ethanol, we can reduce
our reliance on potentially volatile nations.
Yes. In fact, ethanol is not only practical, it
could profoundly change our energy security.
Cellulosic ethanol, which uses technology
built from the corn ethanol platform, can be
made out of any plant matter, including
agricultural waste. The technology could
help regions all over the world become
energy independent.
What’s stopping us from using more ethanol?
In the U.S. we have a regulatory cap on
ethanol that limits the standard blend at 10
percent ethanol and 90 percent gas. But since
recent studies have indicated that cars will run
on higher blends, all we need to do is raise the
regulatory cap to start using more ethanol.
Additionally, if all new vehicles sold in the
U.S. were flex fuel, any blend of ethanol and
gasoline could be used, giving consumers
more choices and further reducing our need
for foreign energy.
Ethanol is more than a fuel. It’s a solution.
Learn more at GrowthEnergy.org.
Washington, D.C.
202.545.4000
GrowthEnergy.org
DrivingEthanol.org
EthanolRetailer.com
GrowthForce.org
PT-US-0063