EAA, 2009
Environmental impacts of ethanol production
Ethanol has helped improve Americas environment and energy security and added billions of gallons to our nations fuel supply. On a gasoline equivalent basis, the U.S. ethanol industry supplies more fuel to Americas fuel pool than the oil we import from Iran, Iraq or Venezuela. In fact, only Canada and Saudi Arabia supply more. In spite of these unquestioned benefits, legitimate questions have arisen regarding the environmental impact of ethanol production as well as the production of feedstocks such as corn. The goal is to break the stranglehold of imported petroleum by developing domestic, renewable energy. But can the U.S. achieve this objective while leaving a minimal environmental footprint? Can biofuels be clean and green? Can the U.S. avoid the oil-soaked sins of the past without setting unrealistic expectations for an evolving renewable energy industry that holds such great promise? The present document attempts to provide answers to these questions.
