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Objectives Describe how ethanol may help improve public health

Objectives Describe how ethanol may help improve public health Describe the benefits of ethanol to the environment Explain how ethanol may help stimulate the economy Describe what energy security is and how using ethanol can help attain it Explain the future of ethanol

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Objectives Describe how ethanol may help improve public health

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  1. Objectives • Describe how ethanol may help improve public health • Describe the benefits of ethanol to the environment • Explain how ethanol may help stimulate the economy • Describe what energy security is and how using ethanol can help attain it • Explain the future of ethanol • Explain the suggested actions to support ethanol

  2. Why Consider Ethanol? • Domestically produced and renewable • Nontoxic, biodegradable, sulfur-free • May produce cleaner tailpipe emissions Figure 1: Emission reductions by type. Source: DOE Biomass program.

  3. Advantages of Ethanol • Energy self-sufficiency • Creation of jobs within the U.S. • Promotes U.S. agricultural sector • Reduced emissions

  4. Figure 2: Comparisons. Source: Fueleconomy.gov.

  5. Ethanol Benefits • There are many benefits of using ethanol to fuel vehicles: • Betterment of health and environment • Benefits to the U.S. economy • National energy security • Reduce dependence on foreign oil

  6. Health Benefits • Carbon monoxide emissions are responsible for up to 20% of smog formation • Smog can negatively affect the respiratory systems of those with preexisting conditions, the young, and elderly • Ethanol/ethanol blends burn more completely, produce fewer carbon monoxide emissions

  7. Environmental Benefits • Ethanol is highly biodegradable • Ethanol used as vehicle fuel reduces harmful emissions • Plants used to create ethanol absorb carbon dioxide during growth • Ethanol does not contain sulfur Figure 3: Sugarcane field. Source: NAFTC.

  8. Economic Benefits • Creation of domestic jobs • Growth within U.S. agricultural sector • In 2011, ethanol industry added more than $42 billion to U.S. GDP, supported more than 400,000 jobs

  9. Energy Security Benefits • U.S. = one of the greatest exporters of agricultural products • About half of U.S. oil used in 2010 was imported • Ethanol can be produced from domestic resources • Domestic production lessens dependence on foreign oil

  10. Renewable Benefits • Ethanol’s energy balance • Ethanol can be produced from renewable biomass resources • Biomass resources can be grown within the U.S.

  11. Ethanol – Today and Tomorrow • Energy Policy Act (EPAct) of 2005 • Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) • 9 billion gallons in 2008 – 36 billion gallons by 2022 • Nearly all gasoline sold in the U.S. contains ethanol

  12. The Future of Ethanol • Nearly all gasoline in the U.S. contains some ethanol • RFSs set requirements for minimum amount of ethanol use • Several manufacturers produce vehicles that are considered flexible fuel (capable of running on E85) • As production increases, the price of ethanol may decrease

  13. Suggested Actions • Increased ethanol production = lessened dependence on foreign oil • Manufacturers continue to introduce more FFVs • Plans to produce different FFVs seem a viable option Figure 3: Domestically grown sugar beet. Source: NAFTC.

  14. Educate consumers about the benefits of ethanol • Price point usually below conventional gasoline prices • Increasing number of E85 stations across the U.S. Figure 5 (right): Fuel pump label for fuels that contain up to 10% ethanol. Source: NAFTC. Figure 6: E85 cap on a flexible fuel vehicle. Source: NAFTC.

  15. Figure 7 (top): GM Flexible Fuel vehicle badge. Source: GM. Figure 8 (bottom): Ford Flexible Fuel vehicle badge. Source: Ford.

  16. Special Note: The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) requires use of 36 billion gallons of renewable transportation fuels in the U.S. by 2022. Of that quantity, 16 billion gallons must be cellulosic biofuels. Ethanol from corn is capped at 15 billion gallons.

  17. Upon completing this section, can you: • Describe how ethanol may help improve public health? • Explain how ethanol may help stimulate the economy? • Describe the benefits to the environment? • Explain the future of ethanol? • Describe what energy security is and how using ethanol can help attain it? • Explain the suggested actions to support ethanol?

  18. Test Your Knowledge • List four characteristics of ethanol as a fuel. • True or False: Ethanol made from corn today results in a GHG emission reduction of 10% compared to conventional gasoline. • True or False: Ethanol production has a positive energy balance. • True or False: Nearly all gasoline used in the U.S. contains some ethanol.

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