What is in this article?:
- In 1982, a handful of small ethanol plants produced 350 million gallons of ethanol. That fact, in addition to 39 others, make up 40 interesting facts about ethanol.
21. Ethanol is the cleanest and most affordable source of octane on the market today, displacing toxic aromatics such as benzene and toluene.
22. Ethanol plants are important economic engines in Rural America.
23. The industry was directly responsible for 87,000 jobs in 2012 and indirectly supported 295,000 more.
24. More than $43.4 billion in U.S. gross domestic product was generated by the industry last year.
25. Consumers benefit too: ethanol reduced gasoline prices by an average of $1.09 per gallon in 2011.
26. That means the average American family saved $1,200 on gasoline purchases in 2011 because of ethanol.
27. From 2000 to 2011, growth in ethanol use reduced gasoline prices by an average of $0.29 per gallon.
28. That saved the U.S. economy nearly $40 billion per year from 2000-2011 in gasoline purchases.
29. Ethanol plants make more than fuel; they also generate highly nutritious animal feed.
30. 1/3 of every bushel processed by a plant is used to make animal feed, while 1/3 goes to ethanol, and the other 1/3 produces CO2.
31. Ethanol uses only the starch in the grain—the protein, fat, and fiber components are made into animal feed, such as distillers grains.
32. Distillers grains have superior feeding value to corn, but typically costs less.
33. Distillers grains are fed to beef and dairy cattle, hogs, poultry, fish and other meat animals around the world.
34. The industry generated 37 million metric tons of feed in 2012—enough to produce seven quarter-pound hamburger patties for every person on the planet.
35. The first generation of ethanol plants primarily uses grain to produce ethanol. But a second wave of advanced ethanol plants is being built that will use a new generation of feedstocks.
36. At least eight commercial advanced ethanol plants are under construction or commissioning. At least 10 more facilities are in the engineering phase, while a dozen more are in the pilot/demonstration stage.
37. These plants will use “cellulosic biomass” to make ethanol; things like corn stalks, wheat straw, poplar, paper waste, forestry residues, municipal waste and other materials.
38. Cellulosic ethanol promises to reduce GHG emissions by up to 110% compared to gasoline.
39. Many of these plants will also produce electricity.
40. The U.S. could produce 75 billion gallons of cellulosic biofuels, five times the amount currently produced, according to the Department of Energy.