Most people have a vague sense that vehicle emissions contribute to air pollution, but many don’t understand either the scope and severity of the problem or what they, personally, can do about it. Some may also be aware that ethanol is an alternative fuel to gasoline but don’t know what it is or about its many benefits. In fact, ethanol is cleaner, saves consumers money and is a healthier fuel source than gasoline that can provide numerous benefits for your car, the environment and your personal health.
JULY 2020
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Now, let’s look at a few of the many benefits of ethanol.
Cost
Ethanol is substantially less expensive than gasoline. The federal Department of Energy has stated that ethanol results in lower gasoline prices by up to 50 cents per gallon when compared to traditional gasoline. It is true motorists may experience a slight decline in miles per gallon when filling up with higher blends of ethanol. However, it’s important to think “cost per mile” opposed to “cost per gallon.” Consumers may be refueling more often, but over the long term, they will be saving more money and cleaning up the air at the same time.
Health
The more ethanol in gasoline, the less particulate matter is released into the atmosphere, which means cleaner air. The cleaner the air, the less risk posed to vulnerable individuals from the consequences of breathing in too much particulate matter, thus leading to lower rates of sickness and disease and, ultimately, to a lower death rate.
Jobs
Ethanol production already employs thousands of people in the United States. A full move to E15 (a fuel containing 15% ethanol) could help create as many as 136,000 new U.S. jobs.
The Environment
Ethanol is a 100% renewable resource that more than offsets the energy required to produce it. According to a 2017 report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, GHGs associated with corn-based ethanol are about 43% lower than gasoline when measured on an energy-equivalent basis. Further, according to a 2012 study by the EPA, for every $1 invested in reducing pollution, we get 30% back. And a separate analysis by the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) found the largest estimated benefit from federal regulations was from reduction in air pollution from a single air pollutant: fine particulate matter. According to Dr. Steffen Mueller, Principal Economist at the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Energy Resources Center and a leading expert on the impact of biofuels on air emissions and toxins, research shows that ethanol reduces GHG emissions by about 40% compared to gasoline. That helps explain why ethanol is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to contribute to such a reduction. Moving to full E15 could eliminate as much as 8 million metric tons of GHG emissions from the air in a year—the equivalent of taking 1.35 million vehicles off the road.
Gasoline-powered engines have contributed significantly to environmental pollution and to millions of individuals’ physical health. These engines burn gasoline to create energy through a process called combustion. In order to reduce an effect called “knocking,” which can damage the engine, various toxic chemicals are introduced into the gasoline to raise its octane level, which is a measure of the quality of the gasoline. The higher the octane, the lower the chance of knocking, but also the greater the level of harmful chemicals.
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What Is Ethanol, and What Are Its Benefits?
5-15%
5-15%
15-25%
15-25%
25-35%
25-35%
35-45%
35-45%
On average, ethanol reduces greenhouse gas emissions by ___ percent when compared directly to gasoline.
The Problems with Traditional Gasoline
There are numerous reasons why you should consider using ethanol-based fuel in your car and other equipment. Using ethanol will save you money, and make a diference for both the enviornment and your family's health and well-being. To learn more about ethanol visit the Nebraska Corn Board website.
Ethanol, which is made primarily from corn, is a clean, renewable and nontoxic source of octane. It functions by adding oxygen to fuel, thereby both replacing corresponding levels of toxic components in the base gasoline and helping the fuel burn more completely before its emissions leave the tailpipe. This leads to fewer toxic emissions and reduced GHG transmission. In other words, ethanol burns cleaner than other fossil fuels.
The validation of ethanol as a superior octane additive comes from many sources, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the automotive industry and health and environmental groups. But if you’re still worried about the performance of ethanol-blended fuels, know this: since 2011, NASCAR has been using E15, which is a fuel containing 15% ethanol. If it’s good enough for NASCAR, it’s good enough for your engine.
ACCORDING TO THE U.S. ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION, ALMOST ALL U.S. GASOLINE IS BLENDED WITH 10% ETHANOL.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, almost all U.S. gasoline is blended with 10% ethanol. Which means, you may be using ethanol and you don’t even know it! Most gasoline-powered engines, including cars and other equipment, can operate on E10 fuel, which is a mix of gasoline and 10% ethanol. This fuel can be used in cars as well as motorcycles, lawn mowers, chain saws, weed trimmers, snow blowers, generators and marine engines. Additionally, E15, a fuel containing 15% ethanol can be used in any vehicle manufactured in 2001 or later, which accounts for over 90% vehicles on the road today. Meanwhile, flex fuel vehicles can operate on higher ethanol mixtures including E20 to E85.
Some of these chemicals fail to burn in the engine and are released through the exhaust in the form of tiny particles into the air. This contributes substantially to air pollution. According to the American Lung Association (ALA), up to 70% of air pollution is caused by vehicles with combustion engines. These particles contribute to greenhouse gases (GHGs) and can be inhaled by humans (and animals). From the lungs, the particles enter the bloodstream; they cause harm to everyone but are especially harmful to young children, the elderly and the immune-compromised. They have been linked to 7 of the top 10 cases of death in humans and are believed to contribute to a host of ailments, including cancer, autism, respiratory and heart diseases, stroke, premature birth, hindrance of brain development, dementia and Alzheimer’s. According to a report by the World Bank, air pollution costs the global economy more than $5 trillion annually in welfare costs.
CORRECT!
Using ethanol reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 35-45% compared to gasoline!
SO CLOSE!
Using ethanol reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 35-45% compared to gasoline!
Now, let’s look at a few of the many benefits of ethanol.
Cost
Ethanol is substantially less expensive than gasoline. The federal Department of Energy has stated that ethanol results in lower gasoline prices by up to 50 cents per gallon when compared to traditional gasoline. It is true motorists may experience a slight decline in miles per gallon when filling up with higher blends of ethanol. However, it’s important to think “cost per mile” opposed to “cost per gallon.” Consumers may be refueling more often, but over the long term, they will be saving more money and cleaning up the air at the same time.
Health
The more ethanol in gasoline, the less particulate matter is released into the atmosphere, which means cleaner air. The cleaner the air, the less risk posed to vulnerable individuals from the consequences of breathing in too much particulate matter, thus leading to lower rates of sickness and disease and, ultimately, to a lower death rate.
Jobs
Ethanol production already employs thousands of people in the United States. A full move to E15 (a fuel containing 15% ethanol) could help create as many as 136,000 new U.S. jobs.
The Environment
Ethanol is a 100% renewable resource that more than offsets the energy required to produce it. According to a 2017 report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, GHGs associated with corn-based ethanol are about 43% lower than gasoline when measured on an energy-equivalent basis. Further, according to a 2012 study by the EPA, for every $1 invested in reducing pollution, we get 30% back. And a separate analysis by the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) found the largest estimated benefit from federal regulations was from reduction in air pollution from a single air pollutant: fine particulate matter. According to Dr. Steffen Mueller, Principal Economist at the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Energy Resources Center and a leading expert on the impact of biofuels on air emissions and toxins, research shows that ethanol reduces GHG emissions by about 40% compared to gasoline. That helps explain why ethanol is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to contribute to such a reduction. Moving to full E15 could eliminate as much as 8 million metric tons of GHG emissions from the air in a year—the equivalent of taking 1.35 million vehicles off the road.