As America faces an armed conflict, it reminds us once again of the importance of energy policy. Republicans and Democrats have generally differed on what form energy policy should take in America. However, one area that many Democrats and Republicans (especially those in farm states) seem to agree on is the use of ethanol. Most of the recent news about ethanol has been centered around its use as a fuel additive. California will soon switch to ethanol blended gasoline. Ethanol can also be used as an alternative fuel itself. Ethanol is becoming a more important part of the energy plan for North America.

The big news on the ethanol front is that the cellulosic or fiber-based refining process could change the shape of the entire industry. This process is complementary to regular corn-based ethanol, because it uses agricultural residues, such as, corn stover(stalks) or straw as its source. Even certain municipal wastes or fiber-rich grasses like switch grass can be used. Iogen Corporation, based in Ottawa, Canada, is currently in the lead with the largest testing facility. They expect to build the first commercially viable cellulosic ethanol plants in the next three to four years. Their long-term plan is to build new facilities in areas where transport of agricultural residues is most convenient. States in the American Midwest are likely to be choice candidates.

You might be wondering, how it is possible to reduce total greenhouse gases in the atmosphere when burning ethanol gives off CO2 like regular gasoline. Well, it has to do with where the CO2 comes from. When we burn gasoline, we're releasing CO2 that has been trapped under the earth for thousands of years. For example, when you burn the residue (cellulosic ethanol only) from last year's crops, you are only actually releasing CO2 that was already present. Next year's crop, assuming that it is of comparable size, will take the same amount of CO2 right back for photosynthesis. Now if the lignin (burned for electricity) can be efficient enough to gain energy credits from the power company, you've basically reduced the power company's need for fossil fuels and at the same time you've made a small reduction in greenhouse gases. The U.S. Department of Energy's studies are a little more conservative, but it does agree that cellulosic ethanol can significantly reduce the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere.

Regular corn-based ethanol will increase the total amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere, to what degree depends upon which study you choose to agree with and how you account for energy inputs into the refinement process. Most people in the agriculture and transportation industries agree that ethanol's total impact is less than regular gasoline. However, this 1997 study produced by Oak Ridge National Laboratory states, "...ethanol from corn may produce more greenhouse gas emissions than regular gasoline on a per btu basis." (Page 5.29) The Department of Energy followed up with this report that looked at some other factors and stated that ethanol from corn does indeed have benefits.

Can my car run on ethanol? Well the answer is yes and maybe. Most cars on the road today can accept about 10% ethanol mixed with regular gasoline as an additive to reduce tailpipe emissions and increase Octane. California is switching from MTBE to ethanol as its standard gasoline additive. This is generally referred to as E-10. E-85 fuel, as you probably guessed, is 85% ethanol and 15% regular gasoline. Cars that are designed as "fuel flexible" can run on E-85 fuel, regular gasoline or any combination of the two. Many domestic vehicles have fuel flexible models available. Because the federal government subsidizes their construction, they're usually available at about the same price as the regular model.

Is it advantageous to own a fuel flexible vehicle in areas that don't have E-85 at their gas stations? The answer is yes. If for no other reason, the gas tanks on fuel flexible vehicles are larger. Since a gallon of ethanol is about 72-75% as effective as a gallon of gasoline, you need to have a larger tank to travel the same distance.

Why is there no E-100 fuel? In cold weather, it is more difficult to get a car to start with 100% ethanol in the tank. An ethanol/gasoline mixture helps with cold starts.