Wisconsin Bio Industry Alliance

E85, a renewable fuel comprised of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline that can be used in any flex fuel vehicle, is available at gas stations across the United States. Here are some facts:

• By the end of 2008, there were over 1,600 fueling stations offering E85 in the United States. This is an increase from September when there were 1,400 stations offering E85. [Source: US Department of Energy, E85: An Alternative Fuel, http://afdc.energy.gov/afdc/ethanol/e85.html, accessed 3/24/09]

• Wisconsin now has over 100 stations across the state that offer E85. [Source: Wisconsin Office of Energy Independence, http://power.wisconsin.gov/docview.asp?docid=11268&locid=131 , accessed 3/24/09]

• To map out all of the E85 stations for any trip you want to take, you can get directions and a listing of all stations with E85 right from the Department of Energy at http://afdc.energy.gov/afdc/stations/find_route.php.

Biodiesel, a renewable fuel made right here in Wisconsin, provides a number of environmental benefits when used instead of conventional diesel.

According to the Southwest Research Institute, which provided a detailed analysis of biodiesel emissions for the US Congress, here are some of the statistics on how biodiesel improves vehicle emissions:

• Exhaust emissions of particulate matter, a recognized factor in respiratory diesease, is reduced by 30% when using biodiesel compared to petroleum diesel.
• Emissions of carbon monoxide, a poisonous gas and contributing factor in formationof smog, is reduced by 50% when using biodiesel.
• Hyrdocarbons in exhaust emissions are 95% lower when using biodiesel.
• Sulfur oxides and sulfates, which are major components of acid rain, are completely eliminated when using biodiesel.

Ethanol has an important role in protecting and improving our environment and natural resources. Here are some statistics about how ethanol and E85 help reduce global warming:

• Using E85 instead of gasoline can reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 20% to 30%. CO2 is a primary contributor to global climate change. [Source: American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest, Clean Air Choice, http://www.cleanairchoice.org/fuels/e85_faq.cfm/, accessed 3/17/09]

• Ethanol reduces greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) by 18-29% when compared to conventional gasoline. [Source: Argonne National Laboratory, Updated Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Results of Fuel Ethanol, 9/28/05]

• 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]

Bernard Tao, a professor at Purdue University, has recently found a way to make biodiesel, a renewable fuel made right here in Wisconsin, peform in temperatures of up to sixty degrees below Fahrenheit. Here are some facts:

• The new process for biodiesel production adjusts the ratio of saturated to unsaturated oils — which are already involved in the production process — instead of adding additional additives.
• Professor Tao and his team tested the biodiesel in Alaska and the Arctic Circle at subzero temperatures and never encountered any cold weather issues with the fuel.
• The additional production step only costs about five cents per gallon, which has a negligible impact on consumer prices for biodiesel.

Biodiesel, a renewable fuel made right here in Wisconsin, runs cleaner than regular diesel and helps to improve air quality. Here are some facts:

• Carbon dioxide emissions are reduced by 78% when substituting biodiesel for petroleum diesel, according to the American Lung Associations.
• Carbon monoxide, a leading contributor in the formation of smog, is reduced by 50% when using biodiesel, according to the Southwest Research Institute.
• Carbon dioxide outputs are reduced by 43,000 pounds per year when using biodiesel instead of petroleum diesel, according to a Propel, Inc. study.

Tuesday Truth #31: Ethanol Good for Local Economies

Ethanol can help in these struggling economic times. In addition to ending our dependence on foreign oil and improving the environment, ethanol is good for local economies. Here are some facts:

• In the United States, the ethanol industry has created more than 147,000 jobs. [Source: January 2005 Report from LECG]
• The nine ethanol plants in Wisconsin employ nearly 400 employees.
• A typical 40 million gallon ethanol plant:
  - Generates a one-time boost of $71 million to the local economy
  - Creates 33 full-time jobs at the plant
  - Creates 120 jobs throughout the local economy, such as construction
  - Increases household income for the community by $6.7 million
  [Source: Nebraska Public Power District, Employment and Other Economic Impacts Associated with the Construction of an Ethanol Production Facility, January 2005]