Quick Facts

  1. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, each gallon of corn ethanol today delivers as much as 130% more energy than is used to produce it.
  2. The use of E85 results in a reduction in greenhouse emissions of nearly 40%, and ozone-forming pollutants significantly and reduces exhaust volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions by 12%.
  3. In 2009 the production of 10.75 billion gallons of ethanol helped support nearly 400,000 jobs in all sectors of the economy.
  4. 78% percent of all gasoline sold in U.S. is blended with some percentage of ethanol.
  5. The use of 10.6 billion gallons of ethanol in 2009 reduced greenhouse emissions from vehicles by 16.5 million metric tons, the equivalent of removing 2.7 million vehicles from the road.
  6. All cars manufactured after 1980 can use up to a 10% ethanol-blend, from Porsches and Ferraris to SUVs, minivans and sedans.
  7. The amount of agricultural land required to produce 15 billion gallons of grain ethanol in the United States by 2015, as required by the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA), is likely to be less than 1 percent of total world cropland.
  8. Flex-Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) can use E85, a blend of 85% ethanol, 15% gasoline, unleaded or any combination of the two.
  9. According to Dr. Michael Wang of Argonne National Laboratory, one gallon of ethanol reduces CO2 emissions by 6.41 pounds. Recent research has found that CO2 is the largest contributor of global climate change, the term used to categorize significant climate changes that are detrimental to human and plant life."
  10. There are more than 8 million FFVs on America’s roads today.
  11. The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, requires 36 billion gallons of renewable fuel use by year 2022.
  12. Work from the University of Nebraska- Lincoln found today’s ethanol reduces direct GHG emissions between 48-59% compared to gasoline.
  13. Ethanol is biodegradable and does not pollute groundwater.
  14. Ethanol-enriched fuel is a cleaner burning, renewable fuel that reduces harmful tailpipe emissions and reduces greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate change.
  15. Ethanol-enriched fuel can tolerate water contamination to a far greater degree than gasoline alone; it absorbs moisture and helps prevent gasoline freeze-up in cold weather.
  16. Ethanol has been used in automobiles since Henry Ford designed his 1908 Model T to operate on pure ethanol.
  17. Ethanol-enriched fuel is the highest-performance fuel on the market. E10 (10% ethanol and 90% gasoline) has an approximate octane rating of 91. E85’s octane rating is approximately 105.
  18. All major auto manufacturers selling cars in the United States approve fuels enriched with up to 10% ethanol. Many manufacturers even recommend ethanol for use for its clean-burning benefits.
  19. Ethanol-enriched fuel reduces pre-ignition problems such as knocking and pinging.
  20. E10 (10% ethanol, 90% gasoline) is safe for use in any gasoline-powered engine, including motorcycles and lawnmowers.
  21. One-third of every bushel of grain processed into ethanol is enhanced and returned to the animal feed market in the form of distillers grains, corn gluten feed or corn gluten meal.
  22. Ethanol-enriched fuel absorbs moisture and can help prevent gasoline freeze-up in cold weather to a far greater degree than gasoline.
  23. Ethanol production has continued to expand geographically, with 200 ethanol biorefineries now operating in 26 states, bringing economic opportunity to tens of thousands of Americans, many of whom live in rural areas.
  24. The average ethanol facility employs approximately 50 individuals, including chemists, engineers, accountants, managers, and all levels of support staff.
  25. Industry survey reports good paying jobs with more than 75% of employees making $50,000 a year.  In addition, 99% of employees report receiving health care benefits from their employers.
  26. More than 2,300 gas stations now offer E85.
  27. An additional 300 stations offer consumers more choices through the use of blender pumps, offering blends such as E20, E30, E40, and E85.
  28. 1 bushel of corn= 2.8 gallons of ethanol and 18 pounds of livestock feed.
  29. A gallon of ethanol contains 77,000 BTUs.
  30. Ethanol has an octane rating of 113.
  31. The production and use of 10.75 billion gallons of ethanol in 2009 reduced demand for imported oil by 364 million barrels, at a savings of $21.3 billion.
  32. In 2009, ethanol biorefineries converted 3.8 billion bushels of corn into an estimated 10.6 billion gallons of ethanol and 30.5 million metric tons of high-value livestock feed, distillers grains and corn gluten feed and meal.
  33. 30.5 million metric tons of feed generated by the ethanol industry in 2009 is equivalent to the total amount of grain fed to cattle in the nation's feedlots.
  34. More than two dozen advanced biofuel projects are in development with a combined projected production capacity of 170 million gallons per year, with each planning massive expansions upon commercialization.
  35. Since 2001, ethanol producers have reduced water requirements by 28%, with many plants requiring less than 2.72 gallons of water to produce ethanol and distillers grains.
  36. Approximately 87% of all corn grown in the U.S. requires no irrigation.  Nearly 97% of all corn used at ethanol biorefineries was not irrigated.
  37. By comparison, it takes 40 gallons of water to produce one cup of coffee; 4 gallons of water for a pound of hamburger; 11.6 gallons of water to produce a pound of chicken; and 300 million gallons of water to produce just one day's worth of newspapers across the country.
  38. Automakers General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler have pledged to make half of all new vehicles coming off their assembly line in 2012 and beyond Flex-Fuel Vehicles which can use a fuel containing up to 85% ethanol.
  39. In 2009, global ethanol production reached nearly 20 billion gallons in more than 40 countries on 6 continents.  This represents nearly 400% growth since 2000.