Iola High School

Iola, Kansas

Teacher:  Loretta Arnold

Ethanol:  Is It Really a Solution?

By:  Tyler Ringwald

12^th Grade

For years, we have seen a steady rise in oil prices.  We have seen steady chunks of our change disappear during our frequent and essential visits to the gas station.  We have heard about global warming, acid rain, and toxic pollutants entering our atmosphere from our own vehicles.  All these things boil down to one—gasoline.  The truth:  it is bad for our atmosphere, it is bad for our pockets, and it is bad for our economy.  The foreseen future of an oil-less world slowly drifts in our direction, and we need to find alternative fuels that we can substitute for our already limited supplies of petroleum.

With the passage of the 2005 Energy Policy Act, more research and development has begun in search for suitable alternatives to petroleum products.  Probably the most [popular] alternative fuel for our country is ethanol.  Ethanol, or ethyl alcohol, has the same chemical makeup as the alcohol that we consume, although it is denatured (made unsuitable to drink) and used as a fuel.  Ethanol is produced from crops such as corn and sugar cane, and cellulosic plants such as trees and grasses.

Ethanol is arguably one of the cleanest and possibly cheapest, renewable fuels that we could hope to get our hands on.  In many people’s eyes, it is the way to go concerning alternative fuels.  Ethanol burns much cleaner than ordinary gasoline:  the quantity of carbon dioxide (CO₂) released from vehicles running on ethanol virtually cancels…the amount of CO₂ absorbed from the atmosphere by ethanol-producing crops.  If burning this fuel is so much cleaner for our atmosphere, then why doesn’t everyone use it?

If we could somehow transfer some of our country’s dependence on foreign oil to domestic ethanol, it would ultimately boost our economy.  Brazil, [that] has over the years reduced their dependence on foreign oil to next to nothing, has made ethanol available at nearly all gas stations in their country.  In America, only 587 of the 170,000 gas stations sell E-85 (85% ethanol, 15% gasoline).  Today, more than 40% of all fuel in Brazilian cars is ethanol—thanks to the abundant supply of sugarcane grown in [that] country.

Ethanol sure looks pretty on the alternative fuel list, but there are also some unattractive drawbacks that come attached.  For starters, ethanol does not produce as much energy as regular gasoline.  Buyers of E-85 at a gas station can expect a 20% to 30% drop in their fuel mileage—so where you might usually get 23 to 25 miles per gallon in your vehicle, expect to get 18 to 20 [with E-85].  Also, you [should] know that the price for ethanol at the pump varies.  At times, ethanol may be as much as fifty cents…cheaper than regular gasoline.  In other instances, ethanol may be even more expensive than regular gasoline…and with today’s gasoline prices, that is saying something!  Most consumers do not realize that when they buy ethanol, they are still paying more than they would for gasoline.  After figuring in the reduced fuel mileage…gasoline seems to be the better choice. 

So, how are we producing energy to create all this ethanol anyway?  By the burning of coal and crude oil.  Think of it in this enigmatic way:  we are burning what we are trying to save in order to produce what we hope will help save what we are burning in the first place! Confusing?  Of course!  The whole situation is!  Why do we burn something that has higher potential energy than what we are producing?  To add to the list, much of the CO₂ emissions that are saved by our ethanol-using cars are put right back into the atmosphere by the ethanol plants—which burn coal and crude oil.  So here’s the big question:  Is ethanol really worth it?

That is exactly what we as a country are trying to discover.  That is one of the many purposes of the thought-out 2005 Energy Policy Act—to research and develop new, efficient fuels for our country.  Whether we [incorporate] alternative fuels into our lifestyle in the near or distant future, there’s always that looming awareness that one day we will run out of oil.  One day we will have no other choice but to fuel our raging fires by alternative means.  Is the 2005 Energy Policy Act enough to help us find our way through this cloudy situation?  We will find out.  Until then, we as a country must keep searching for a cheaper, more efficient way to define the phrase ‘alternative fuel.’

Answers to the Required Reading Questions

1. Gasohol is a byproduct exclusively from ________ and __________ whereas cellulosic ethanol can be produced from agricultural waste such as _________, __________, and ____________.

·        Gasohol is a byproduct exclusively from gasoline and ethanol.  Cellulosic ethanol can be produced from agricultural waste such as cornstalks, grasses, and tree bark.

2. Why did auto makers produce cars that could operate using ethanol as well as gasoline before there was an adequate number of service stations that could provide ethanol?

·        They wanted a break from fuel-economy standards.

3. When were the first cars produced that were capable of using ethanol?

·        In the early 1900’s Henry Ford’s Model T’s were the first to use ethanol.

4. In a paragraph, describe Brazil’s experience with ethanol.  What did the Fortune article claim was Brazil’s key to success?

·        Brazil is perfect for growing sugarcane, which is the most energy-rich feedstock known.  Forty percent of the fuel used in Brazil is ethanol.  They also are able to use fuel from their own country because of this.  Extra energy is used for electricity.  Brazil’s key to success is that consumers are choosing ethanol rather than being forced to buy it.

5.  What is the significance of a yellow gas cap?

·        They signify that the vehicle is a flex-fuel vehicle.

6.  Describe bio-diesel.

·        Bio-diesel is a renewable fuel made from alcohol, oils, fats, or greases in which the glycerin has been removed.  It significantly decreases harmful emissions.

7.  Explain the term “flex-fuel engine.”  What American auto manufacturer introduced the first prototype of a flex-fuel engine?

·        Flex-fuel engines are identical to gasoline-only engines with minor adjustments for use of ethanol.  Ford introduced the first prototype flex-fuel engine.

8.  Trace the progress of H.R. 6 for viewers to our web site.

·        The bill was was passed by the United States Congress on July 29, 2005 and signed into law on August 8, 2005 by President Bush.

9. What is the purpose of the fuel hybrid vehicle commercialization initiative?

·        Its purpose is to improve technologies for the community of hybrid/flex-fuel vehicles.

10.  What is the nation’s largest renewable energy resource?

·        The nation’s largest renewable energy resource is hydroelectricity.

11.  What is the purpose of the Hydrogen Fuel Initiative?

·        To develop the technology to produce, store, and distribute hydrogen for use in fuel-cell vehicles.

12.  List seven items mentioned in the 2005 energy tax bill that taxpayers can claim as credits against their tax bill.

·        Construction of energy-efficient offices and homes.

·        One equaling the cost of energy efficient equipment, if it reduces energy consumption by 50%

·        Contracting of new efficient homes if the home saves 50% or more over the 2003 International Energy Conservation Code.

·        Purchasing solar equipment.

·        Purchasing water heaters, heat pumps, air conditioners, and furnaces with certain efficiency levels.

·        Manufacturers who produce highly energy-efficient dishwashers, washers, and refrigerators.

·        Purchasing solar, photo voltaic, and fuel cell properties for use in residences.

Works Cited

Berman, Bradley. Pros and Cons of Ethanol.  2006. Online. 27 Nov 2006.
<http://www.hybridcars.com/ethanol/benefits-drawbacks.html>.

        (Very Informative with slight pro reform bias)

Berman, Bradley. Ethanol.  2006. Online. 27 Nov 2006.
<http://www.hybridcars.com/ethanol/overview.html>.

        (Very Informative with slight pro reform bias)

Hannity, Sean. Ethanol Pros and Cons?. 29 Jun 2005. Online. 27 Nov 2006.
<http://www.hannity.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-14622.html>.

        (Somewhat Informative with slight anti reform bias)

Lashinsky, Adam. "How to Beat the High Prices of Gasoline. Forever!." Fortune 06 Feb 2006: 75, 76, 78, 80, 81, 87.

(Very Informative with heavy pro reform bias)

Osborn, Donna. “Can we grow our way out of an energy crisis?.” Buffalo Reflex. 13 Dec 2006. 13 Dec 2006. <http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=1815&dept_id=516608&newsid=17585106&PAG=461&rfi=9>.

        (Somewhat Informative with slight anti reform bias)

 BACK