Quick Facts

  1. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, each gallon of corn ethanol today delivers as much as 2.3 times 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. It also reduces exhaust volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions by 12%.
  3. In 2010, the production of 13 billion gallons of ethanol helped support more than 400,000 jobs in all sectors of the economy.
  4. 90% of all gasoline sold in U.S. is blended with some percentage of ethanol.
  5. The use of 13 billion gallons of ethanol in 2010 reduced greenhouse emissions from vehicles by 21.9 million metric tons, the equivalent of removing 3.5 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 9 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 204 ethanol biorefineries now operating in 29 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 83% of employees making $40,000 per year. In addition, 99% of employees report receiving health care benefits from their employers, this is well above the national average of 71%.
  26. Today, more than 2,700 stations offer E85 and an additional 900 of those stations have installed blender pumps. Approximately 300 of those 900 stations offer mid-level blends. Comparatively, there are approximately 162,000 gas stations in America.
  27. Approximately 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, 17 pounds of livestock feed (distillers grains) and 18 pounds of carbon dioxide.
  29. A gallon of ethanol contains 77,000 BTUs.
  30. Ethanol has an octane rating of 113.
  31. In 2010, ethanol biorefineries converted 4.65 billion bushels of corn into 12.95 billion gallons of fuel and nearly 32.5 million metric tons of high-value livestock feed, distillers grains and corn gluten feed and meal.
  32. 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.
  33. 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.
  34. 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.
  35. 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.
  36. 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.
  37. The 13 billion gallons of ethanol production in 2010 reduced America’s need for imported oil for gasoline refining by 445 million barrels.
  38. Ethanol production is becoming ever more efficient - today, it requires 28% less energy and 32% fewer gallons of water than it did just a decade ago.
  39. Today, the starch in grains such as corn and sorghum is the feedstock for approximately 99% of all U.S. ethanol production.
  40. E10 can be used as fuel for marine engines and watercrafts, but not E15 or any other higher ethanol blends. Until fuel blends containing more than 10% ethanol have been tested and approved for use in marine engines, watercraft and boat owners should not use these higher fuel blends.
  41. The National Boat Racing Association (NBRA) is using E10 exclusively for all their races in 2011. Using E10 should not present any major problems for boat owners, if recommended best management practices are utilized.
  42. There are over 12 million recreational boats in the United States, some of which are considered vintage watercraft. Regardless of make and model, most watercrafts can operate on E10. For instance, Honda, Kawasaki, Mercury Marine, OMC (Johnson/Evinrude), Pleasurecraft, Tigershark (Artco), Tracker and Yamaha allow the use of ethanol fuels in their products.