Ethanol is a high octane, clean burning, American-made renewable fuel. Its production and use offer a myriad of benefits to the United States and its citizens.

Ethanol plants have helped revitalize rural agricultural communities across the United States by spurring economic development; increasing local tax revenues; creating year-round, high-paying jobs; and creating enterprise opportunities for local businesses. 

As a renewable fuel, ethanol also helps the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and displacing the harmful additive MTBE from reformulated gasoline.

Ethanol is a reliable transportation energy source leaving little doubt that ethanol production will increase as we look for greener ways to produce sustainable energy.  The use of ethanol reduces harmful auto emissions, offers consumers a cost-effective choice at the pump, and decreases the amount of expensive crude oil needed to satisfy the nation's thirst for transportation fuel.

Ethanol is produced at 156 facilities across the nation and then blended into 64% of the nation’s unleaded gasoline in varying percentages. Ethanol is most commonly retailed as E10, the 10 percent blend of ethanol for use in all automobiles. Increasingly, ethanol is also available as E85, the 85 percent ethanol blend for use in Flexible Fuel Vehicles. Study is being done on allowing the use of blends beyond 10 percent in standard automobiles.

Americans have an unprecedented opportunity to feed the world and fuel our nation.  The ethanol industry is on the cutting edge of technology, pursuing new processes and renewable energy sources to help us achieve energy independence and food security. 

Our Nation is distinguished from other nations for its sophisticated market economy and progressive entrepreneurial spirit.  As a result, demand for ethanol is expected to continue to increase due to a combination of factors that include federal and state policy support, the increased production of renewable fuels, the decision to eliminate the use of MTBE as a fuel oxygenator, the production and promotion of flex-fuel vehicles, increased investment and support for flexible fuel infrastructure, energy price volatility, energy security issues, and air quality concerns.

Available today, ethanol is an important piece of the renewable energy puzzle and a pivotal component of our Nation’s renewable fuels portfolio.  Recently, state and federal policies have been enacted that clearly put our nation on a new path toward greater energy diversity and national security. Continued public policy and support will reinforce the importance of renewable fuels like ethanol to ensure America’s future energy security; provide economic stimulus to rural, small businesses and make sustainable energy available to all Americans. C onventional ethanol establishes a platform (via infrastructure, policy advancement and industry acceptance) for other renewable fuels. As a renewable resource with positive environmental benefits, ethanol is part of the sustainable, domestic solution to our energy needs. Ethanol provides consumers with greener fuel choice today and sets the stage for even greener, lower cost renewable fuels for the future.