Today the United States imports more than half its oil requirements, and as overall consumption continues to rise, prices are being driven ever higher. One way U.S. drivers can help reverse this trend is by using ethanol-blended products and supporting ethanol production.

Ethanol is a domestic, high octane, renewable fuel produced by fermentation of plant sugars, typically corn and other grain products, by a fermentation/distillation method similar to that used in production of alcoholic beverages.

Currently, ethanol production utilizes 10 percent of the annual U.S. corn crop. Its production doesn’t deplete human and animal food supplies because only the starch of the corn kernel is required and valuable protein, minerals and nutrients are left for other uses. A bushel of corn produces about 2.7 gallons of ethanol, 11.4 pounds of gluten feed (20 percent protein), 3 pounds of gluten meal (60 percent protein), and 1.6 pounds of corn oil. In the future ethanol may be produced from other biomass resources such as agricultural and forestry wastes or specially grown energy crops, as well as corn.

Aside from its superior performance characteristics, ethanol is an environmentally friendly fuel that burns cleaner than gasoline. Increased use of ethanol, which is completely renewable, enhances the nation’s economy and energy independence by directly displacing imported oil.

E85, an “alternative fuel” as defined by the U.S. Department of Energy, is the term used for motor fuel blends of 85 percent ethanol with 15 percent gasoline. With an octane rating of approximately 105, E85 usually is priced to be competitive with 87 octane unleaded gasoline. It is a biodegradable product that does not contaminate water and is much less toxic than gasoline. The environmentally friendly fuel also substantially reduces carbon monoxide emissions.

Ethanol and flexible fuel vehicles

All major automobile manufacturers approve the use of fuels blended with up to 10 percent ethanol—in fact, some of them recommend it for its clean-burning characteristics. In order to operate on E85, however, vehicles must be compatible with alcohol use. Several manufacturers, including General Motors, Ford, Daimler Chrysler, Mazda and Isuzu, now produce Flexible Fuel Vehicles (FFVs), and it was anticipated that 3.5 million E85 vehicles would be on the road by the end of model year 2004.

Ethanol in Missouri

In 2004, more than 65 million gallons of ethanol were produced in Missouri by two farmer-owned ethanol plants, utilizing about 8 percent of the state’s annual corn crop. A new plant in Malta Bend, which started production earlier this spring, will increase the state’s production capacity by 48 million gallons.

According to an independent study by MU professor emeritus Donald Van Dyne, the direct and indirect benefits of Missouri’s two existing ethanol plants include 2,687 jobs, a $256 million increase in total annual economic output, and a $26.3 million increase in annual tax revenues. The same study predicts that five more ethanol plants could translate into 8,890 more jobs, an $845 million economic output increase and $87 million more in tax revenues.

Nationwide, as consumers become more concerned about both the environment and dependence on foreign oil, interest in ethanol and E85 continues to expand. Active promotion by the Missouri Corn Growers Association and the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition, both of which contributed material for this article, has contributed to acceptance of the alternative fuel by citizens of Missouri.

Nearly all automobile fuels sold in St. Louis contain up to 10 percent ethanol, and about one in five retail fuel locations in the rest of the state now market E10. E85, while not as prevalent, can be purchased in St. Louis, Columbia, Jefferson City, Kansas City, Kearney, Macon, Marshall, Rolla and Smithville.

Marketing, production and continued support of ethanol-enhanced fuels will drive agricultural economics to new levels, reduce dependency on foreign oils, enhance our environment and—hopefully—stabilize the price increases we have experienced in the fuel industry over the past year.

Ken McClure is manager for business development at MFA Oil Company.