Argument: Biofuels burn more cleanly, cun cut greenhouse gas emissions

Support

Ethanol.org. “What is Ethanol” – Environment and Clean Air. Fossil fuel-based gasoline is the largest source of man-made carcinogens and the number one source of toxic emissions, according to the U.S. EPA. Ethanol is a renewable, environmentally friendly fuel that is inherently cleaner than gasoline. Ethanol reduces harmful tailpipe emissions of carbon monoxide, particulate matter, oxides of nitrogen, and other ozone-forming pollutants.

The use of ethanol-blended fuel helps reduce the environmental and economic impacts of gasoline consumption on our society.

Read more in the research Clearing the Air – a Review of the Real-World Impacts of Using Ethanol-Blended Fuel and in Ethanol: A Convenient Solution to the Inconvenient Truth

Ethanol Clean Air Facts:

• Ethanol blends are likely to reduce carbon monoxide emissions in vehicles by between 10% – 30%, depending upon the combustion technology. (U.S. EPA)
• The American Lung Association of Metropolitan Chicago credits ethanol-blended fuel with reducing smog-forming emissions by 25% since 1990.
• The use of 10% ethanol blends reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 12-19% compared to conventional gasoline. (Argonne National Lab)
• In 2004, ethanol use in the U.S. reduced CO2-equivalent greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 7 million tons, equal to removing the emissions of more than 1 million cars from the road. (Argonne National Lab)
• Research shows a 35-46% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and a 50-60% reduction in fossil energy use due to the use of ethanol as a motor fuel. (Argonne National Lab)
• Ethanol contains 35% oxygen, making it burn more cleanly and completely than gasoline.
• E85 has the highest oxygen content of any fuel available, making it burn even more cleanly and even more completely than any other fuel.

“Ethanol: A Convenient Solution to an Inconvenient Truth”. Better Environmental Solutions. Dec. 2007

Clearing the Air with Ethanol. Better Environmental Solutions and Renewable Energy Action Project. 2006

“Grass biofuels ‘cut CO2 by 94%'”. BBC. 8 Jan. 2008 – Producing biofuels from a fast-growing grass delivers vast savings of carbon dioxide emissions compared with petrol, a large-scale study has suggested.

Ed Young. “Opinion: How biofuels could cut carbon emissions, produce energy and restore dead land”. 4 Feb. 2007 – A new way of producing biofuels could not only curb carbon emissions and produce renewable energy, but also restore unusable agricultural land and improve biodiversity. But only if this winning breakthrough find its way onto the political agenda.