|
Ethanol Facts: Environmental Benefits
 Unlike petroleum-based fossil fuels that are in limited supply, ethanol
is a renewable fuel made from plants we grow right here in America.
According to Argonne National Laboratory, the use of ethanol-blended
fuels reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 12 to 19% compared to conventional
gasoline. It is estimated that, during 2003, ethanol use in the U.S.
reduced greenhouse gas emissions at a level equivalent to removing 853,000
cars from the nation’s highways.
Because ethanol contains oxygen and helps fuel combust more completely,
the use of ethanol in automotive fuel:
- Reduces tailpipe carbon monoxide
emissions by as much as 30%
- Reduces exhaust VOC emissions by 12%
- Reduces particulate emissions, especially
fine particulates that are especially hazardous to children, seniors
and those with respiratory disease
Ethanol blended gasoline has helped dozens of American cities comply with
federal clean air standards. In fact, the American Lung Association of
Metropolitan Chicago credits ethanol-blended gasoline with reducing smog-forming
emissions by 25% since 1990. |
RSS