Ethanol info

Though ethanol can be produced from many common crops such as barley, potatoes, and wheat, it is most commonly produced using sugarcane, switchgrass, or corn.

Brazil, the world's largest producer of ethanol (4.35 billion U.S. gallons per year), produces ethanol from sugarcane. The United States, right behind Brazil in ethanol production (4.30 billion U.S. gallons per year), produces ethanol from corn. Sugarcane contains eight times more energy than corn.

Nearly all vehicles sold in the United States since the early 1980's can run normally on E10 fuel (10% ethanol, 90% gasoline). In fact, most gas stations pump E10 without consumers even realizing it. Most cars can run on E15 (15% ethanol) or even higher concentrations. Flex-fuel cars run on E85 (85% ethanol), straight gas, or nearly any fuel combination below 85% ethanol. Currently there are over four million flex-fuel cars on American roads, but only 1,133 stations in the country sell E85, compared to over 170,000 stations that don't. (There are 4 stations in Utah that sell E85)

It is debatable whether ethanol is actually energy-efficient or not. Some studies indicate that it takes 29% more energy to produce ethanol than is generated by that ethanol. Other studies (especially government studies) say that ethanol produces up to 34% more energy than is required to produce it.

If we use all of the current corn crop in the United States exclusively to produce ethanol, we will only be able to produce between 3.7% and 16% of the current energy demand in our country (depending on the source). According to David Pimentel (a Cornell professor considered a leading expert on ethanol), "if we decided to power all of our automobiles with ethanol, we would need to cover 97 percent of our land with corn." He also said that "it takes 11 acres to grow enough corn to fuel one automobile with ethanol for 10,000 miles, or about a year's driving. That's the amount of land needed to feed seven persons for the same period of time."

According to a study published in May (2007) by Iowa State University, "food prices have climbed an average of $47 per person due to the ethanol surge since last July (2006)." (only 10 months)

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I'm not sure how or if you'll be able to use these in a talk, Dad, but they are still interesting things to know. Now you are educated about ethanol.

-Dallin