Ethanol

For Farmers > Issue Briefs > Ethanol

Overview

As part of a comprehensive domestic energy strategy, corn ethanol helps to diversify America’s fuel supply, reduce our dependence on foreign oil and foster a more vibrant economy. Ethanol has become an essential component of the U.S. motor fuel market.

Today, ethanol is blended into more than 90 percent of the nation’s fuel, and is sold virtually from coast to coast and border to border. The U.S. industry supports over 400,000 jobs around the country, 70,000 of which are directly employed by the production of ethanol. In addition, over $53 billion was contributed to our nation’s Gross Domestic Product last year.

Using ethanol as a part of the motor fuel market helps to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 30 percent. In 2010, the production and use of 13 billion gallons of ethanol in the United States reduced CO2-equivalent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to removing more than 3.5 million cars from America’s roads.

The ethanol industry also reduces our dependence on foreign oil at a time in which we import nearly two-thirds of our oil, sending over $1 billion per day to other countries. Currently, ethanol displaces the need for more than 445 million barrels of oil per year.

Recommended Action

• Protect and defend the Renewable Fuel Standard.
• Expand consumer fuel choice by investing in biofuels infrastructure and increasing the number of flex-fuel vehicles.