Wisconsin Bio Industry Alliance

A new study by researchers at University of Nebraska-Lincoln shows that ethanol produces far fewer greenhouse gas emissions than previously reported. Here are some facts:

• Greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) are shown to be 48 to 59% lower than emissions from gasoline. [Source: University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Improvements in Life Cycle Energy Efficiency and Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Corn-Ethanol, http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/121647166/HTMLSTART,  accessed 1/27/09]
• This research shows a twofold to threefold greater reduction in emissions from ethanol than had been reported in previous studies.
• The study concludes that advanced technologies in the production process are a main factor in the further reduction of GHGs.

As temperatures in Wisconsin drop this winter, it is important to know that using ethanol instead of gasoline to fill up means one does not have to add over-the-counter additives to keep the gas line from freezing. Here are some facts:

• Gas line antifreeze, just like ethanol, is an alcohol. [Source: Virginia Cooperative Extension, “Fuel Ethanol,” http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/bse/442-884/442-884.html, accessed 1/13/09]

• Alcohol absorbs water in the gas line before it has time to collect and freeze.

• One can save money by filling up with E85 (a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline) because there is no need to add an antifreeze to the gas line.

Tuesday Truth #24: Ethanol Lowers
Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Ethanol is a home-grown domestic fuel that can help lower greenhouse gas emissions, a main source of global warming. Here are some facts:

• Ethanol produced from corn results in about a 20 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) relative to gasoline. [Source: US Department of Energy, Ethanol Myth and Facts, http://www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/ethanol_myths_facts.html,  accessed 1/6/09]
• In 2006, ethanol use in the United States reduced GHGs by 8 million tons – the equivalent of removing more than 1.2 million cars from the road. [Source: Argonne National Laboratory, Updated Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Results of Fuel Ethanol, 9/28/05]