Ethanol

What is Ethanol?
Ethanol is 200 proof alcohol, made from the fermentation of various starch sources and is a high-octane motor fuel that burns more completely than gasoline alone. Ethanol is currently blended into more than 50 percent of the nation’s fuel supply.  Ethanol has been blended in gasoline for decades—and billions of miles have been driven on ethanol-blended fuels.

What is Ethanol Made From?
In the United States, the primary input for ethanol production is corn. Contrary to popular misconceptions, the corn used to make ethanol is not sweet corn or popcorn, which are consumed by humans; it is actually made from yellow dent, or field corn, which is used largely as livestock feed. About 20 percent of the nation’s corn supply was used for the production of ethanol in 2007—some 3.0 billion bushels.  However, ethanol can also be produced using several different feedstocks such as sugarcane, wheat, cheese whey, beverage waste, potato waste, milo, or sorghum. Currently corn-based ethanol is made from the corn kernels, but research is also being conducted to look at the feasibility of making ethanol out of other parts of the corn plant including the cob and the stalk, and also other plant matter such as switchgrass and woody biomass. Farmer-investors have chosen to build ethanol facilities that use corn because of its abundant production, availability, existing infrastructure, economical technology, and efficient output of the final product – ethanol.

How is Ethanol Produced?
Ethanol can be produced by a wet or dry milling process, however, most plants in the United States are dry mills because of the higher construction costs for wet mill facilities. In a dry mill, corn is sent through multiple steps, beginning with the harvested corn being ground into a course flour.  Then, hot water and enzymes are added to make a maize mash that is heated in cookers to breakdown the starch.  Yeast is also mixed in to trigger fermentation of the mixture.  The mash remains in this stage for up to 48 hours.  The resulting product is distilled and dehydrated until a pure anhydrous ethanol liquid is produced.  The last step in the process, called denaturing, renders the product unfit for human consumption by added two to five percent gasoline.  The end product is ethanol, a clean burning, non-toxic, and bio-degradable fuel.  Co-products of this process include distillers’ grains, which can be fed to livestock, and carbon dioxide, which can be used by beverage and refrigeration industries, among others.  One bushel of corn (56 pounds) can provide 2.8 gallons of ethanol, 16 pounds of distillers’ grains and 17 pounds of carbon dioxide.

For a step-by-step tour of an ethanol plant, click here. 

How is Ethanol Being Utilized in Our Fuel Supplies and Who Can Use It?
Ethanol is mixed with unleaded gasoline in two common blends in Michigan and across the United States. The majority of the gasoline in the country is E10, a blend of ten percent ethanol and 90 percent gasoline. E10 is approved for use in any make or model of vehicle sold in the United States. In fact, every automobile manufacturer warrantees their vehicles to use up to E10 and many automakers recommend its use because of its high performance and cleaner-burning characteristics. The other common blend of ethanol is E85, a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, which is designed for use in flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs).  There are approximately 7 million FFVs on America's roads today, and automakers are rolling out more each year. When E85 is not available, these FFVs can operate on straight gasoline or any ethanol blend up to 85 percent.

Where Can I Buy Ethanol Blended Gas?
Nearly half of Michigan’s fuel supply is of the E10 variety, according to the Michigan Department of Agriculture.  However, unlike some states, Michigan’s ethanol-blended gas no longer requires signage at the pump notifying the consumer that they are purchasing E10 gasoline.  If you are interested in knowing if your gas is 10 percent ethanol, ask your local station manager.  

In response to the growing number of FFV’s on the road, more E85 pumps are being installed across the country.  Michigan has nearly 100 working E85 pumps.  To locate one near you, visit http://www.e85refueling.com.

Why Should I Use and Support Ethanol Blends?
The production of ethanol benefits the United States on many levels.  It is great for our economy, our environment and our national energy security. 

Ethanol plants help local communities by providing full-time jobs and tax revenue to both the local and state economies. There are currently 174 producing ethanol plants across the country, with a capacity to produce more than 11 billion gallons of ethanol. A 50 million gallon per year facility will expand the local economic base by up to $84 million annually. In addition, an ethanol plant this size increases household income by $40 million and supports the creation of 618 jobs. As the numbers prove, the ethanol industry in Michigan boosted our economy by nearly $500 million, created more than 3,000 jobs, and increased household income by more than $200 million.  Michigan currently has four producing ethanol plants (for a map of these locations, click here), with an annual capacity of more than 200 million gallons.

Ethanol is a renewable, environmentally-friendly fuel that is inherently cleaner than gasoline. It decreases harmful tailpipe emissions of carbon monoxide, particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, and other ozone-forming pollutants.  Ethanol usage reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 48 to 59 percent.  The reduction in pollution as a result of ethanol blends has had the equivalent effect of removing more than 2.1 million cars from America’s roads. Additionally, ethanol is a non-toxic, water soluble biodegradable substance, making it safe for our environment.

American-made, renewable ethanol directly displaces crude oil we would need to import, offering our country critically needed independence and security from foreign sources of energy. For every barrel of ethanol produced (1 barrel = 42 gallons), 1.2 barrels of petroleum are displaced at the refinery. In 2008, ethanol replaced 330,000 barrels of oil daily for a total decrease in imported oil of 321 million gallons

For more information, visit the following links:

Publications:

Ethanol Newsletter
Renewable Fuels Commission Report
Understanding the Impact of Higher Corn Prices on Consumer Food Prices
How Much Ethanol Can Come From Corn
U.S. Corn Growers: Producing Food AND Fuel

Other ethanol sites:

American Coalition for Ethanol
Ethanol Coalition of Michigan
Ethanol Facts
EPIC
National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition
Renewable Fuels Association
Ethanol Producer Magazine

Senator Carl Levin; John DiMartini, MCGA board industry representative; Bruce Noel, past CMPM board member; and Jody Pollok-Newsom, CMPM & MCGA executive director pictured at DiMartini's E85 grand opening event

The Michigan Corn Office Chevy Tahoe,
powered by E85