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September 24, 2008

Ethanol: Helping to Reduce our Reliance on Foreign Oil (Opinion)

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Posted in Biofuels, Cellulosic ethanol, Ethanol

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Editor’s Note: This post was provided by one of our paid sponsors, the Ethanol Promotion Information Council (EPIC). EPIC is a nonprofit alliance of ethanol industry leaders who have come together to grow consumer demand for ethanol energy through targeted marketing.

The Ethanol Promotion Information Council (EPIC) is working to get the word out that ethanol is actually helping to keep gas prices lower. The following is from an interview with Toni Nuernberg, executive director of EPIC.

If you’ve been exposed to the media lately you’ve probably heard the phrase “renewable fuels.” What exactly are renewable fuels? According to Wikipedia, “renewable fuels are alternative fuel sources such as biofuels (ethanol, biodiesel -e.g. soy, vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled restaurant greases-) or hydrogen.” Texas Governor Rick Perry recently petitioned the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to lower ethanol mandates, saying that the production of ethanol was causing food and fuel prices to go up. The EPA rejected Gov. Perry’s request in August, saying that the Renewable Fuels Standard “remains an important tool in our ongoing efforts to reduce America’s greenhouse gas emissions and lessen our dependence on foreign oil.”

What is the number one thing people need to know about ethanol and gas prices?

Toni Nuernberg: People need to know that ethanol keeps gas prices low. Iowa State University recently released a study that found by adding just 10 percent ethanol to gasoline in the United States, the average motorist will save between 104 and 241 dollars a year. Imagine who much you’d save if you drove a flex-fuel vehicle, which can use E85 fuel, a blend of gasoline that is 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline.

A lot of opponents of corn-based ethanol say that its production is hurting food prices. Is this true?

TN: It is completely untrue; ethanol has very little to do with the rise in food prices. In fact, one of the biggest reasons for higher food prices is skyrocketing gas prices, which has more to do with our dependence on foreign oil than ethanol. Without an alternative fuel source such as ethanol, the price of gasoline could have spiked at least another 14.6 percent. Many people want you to believe that ethanol is taking away from the food supply. In reality, the corn that is used in ethanol, can be used again in livestock feed. It is important to be leary of what is being touted as “fact” by ethanol opponents. Those who have benefited from the current energy situation will not benefit by helping to find a long term, sustainable resolution.

Where is the future of ethanol headed?

TN: Corn-based ethanol is the only alternative energy that is commercially available today. Corn-ethanol has served as the foundation that is helping to build the next generation of ethanol and will continue to play an important role in our energy portfolio. Diversifying from corn-based ethanol to include cellulosic ethanol is a key element to the future of ethanol. Cellulosic ethanol is made from cellulosic biomass materials such as corn stover, sugar cane, sawdust, paper pulp, wood waste, and dedicated energy crops such as switchgrass. Cellulosic biomass is the most abundant organic material on earth. Pilot -cellulosic ethanol plants are being built around the country to test out the technology, hopefully making it available commercially soon.

Western Biomass Energy LLC, owned and operated by KL Process Design, is the first small-scale commercial ethanol plant in production. The facility went online in January 2008.   Early research from Argonne National Labs has shown a significant advantage in the production of cellulosic ethanol in that it produces 80 percent LESS greenhouse gas during ethanol production than gasoline production. Not only is ethanol produced cleaner, it also helps your car run cleaner.

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