The renewable fuel association says,
"Using ethanol in place of gasoline helps
to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by
up to 29% given today's technology."
When filling up your vehicles tank at the gas
station, you might be wondering
what is the difference between regular gasoline
and the fuel they call ethanol?
Should I be using one over the other?
Have I been putting the wrong type of fuel in my vehicle?
Don't let the wrong choice keep you
from improving the performance and
fuel efficiency of your vehicle.
For years people have had many
misconceptions and misinterpretations
on what ethanol actually is
and how it benefits our environment.
Every single day millions of people drive to gas stations to
fill their cars up.
But most often never choose the choice
of unleaded gasoline with 10% ethanol
because a fear of the unknown.
I am here to fill you in on why
you should choose ethanol and all of the
benefits it provides for not only our environment
but agriculture as well.
First, let me explain and break down what
ethanol truly is.
Ethanol is a clean burning high octane
motor fuel that is produced from renewable sources.
It's most basic definition, ethanol is grain alcohol
produced from crops such as corn.
Because it is domestically produced,
ethanol helps reduce America's dependence
upon foreign sources of energy.
Ethanol is actually saving money for consumers.
By adding volume to our nation's transportation
fuel supply, ethanol is helping putting
downward pressure on gas prices.
The most common blends are E10, E15 and E85.
So what do all of these numbers mean?
For example E10, the most common ethanol
that all gas stations currently use,
means that it contains 10% ethanol
and 90% unleaded gasoline.
It does not take a special vehicle to
run on ethanol.
All vehicles are ethanol vehicles.
They can use up to 10% - 15% ethanol with
no modifications required at all to the engine.
Often people confuse E85 for ethanol, believing
incorrectly that not all vehicles
are ethanol compatible.
This is simply a myth
that I am here to squash.
As we begin, lets recall why the ethanol
industry was created in the first place.
First, Congress wanted to create a
domestic source of energy.
Second, they wanted to add value to
agricultural product and increase
profitability for corn producers.
One of the most obvious benefits seen is
that it creates more jobs on the
local level within communities.
If we are burning ethanol fuel from corn
that is raised and grown here in our state,
that's money that is turning over
in our local economy.
If we export corn,
we only get the market value for a
bushel of corn and no other revenue
is gained from it after it is put on the
train to be exported.
But if we keep it in the local level,
now that same market price for a bushel
of corn multiplies by six to seven times.
We capitalize on that same bushel
of corn and create many uses for it.
First, we sell corn to the ethanol plant.
It creates ______ for the cattle industry.
Creates cleaner air, and it creates
ethanol fuel for local gas stations.
So how does corn get from the field
to the fuel tank?
Seed is planted around the end of April
or the fist of May.
Corn is planted, such as watered and fertilized.
Corn is harvested around September
to the first of November then
corn is put in a truck and hauled
to the local ethanol plant.
Then, this is where the ethanol production
process occurs.
So, what happens to the leftovers?
Nothing goes to waste.
The distillers grain becomes a nutritious
livestock feed and the remaining ethanol
is sold to distributes for delivery to
neighborhood stations.
By making the simple choice to fill your
tank up with ethanol instead of
regular unleaded gasoline, you are making
the choice to not only support agriculture
as a whole and its producers, but our environment.
Ethanol overall increases the demand
for corn production, provides cows with
cheaper and more nutritious feed,
grows rural communities, lowers ag subsidiaries,
creates cleaner air by lowering Co2 emissions,
and lowers our taxation with population.
The benefits are endless.
Next time your tank is on empty, fill it
up with high performance, renewable, ethanol
enriched fuel.
And to think, it all started with corn.