The US Senators have presented a new bill, the Ethanol Education and Expansion Act of 2007, in the senate for the promotion of Ethanol (E-85). As Ethanol is a homegrown renewable fuel, it reduces the scarcity and dependence on foreign oil.

The bill aims to provide grants to ethanol producers, directly helping them to set ethanol pumps and hence automatically reducing the prices for the real consumers.

Also, as petroleum is posing a hazardous threat to our environment and economy, the home grown Ethanol, which is environment friendly and cost effective, seems to carry the answer, at least for now. As per the reports, one bushel of corn can produce 2.8 gallons of ethanol with mere use of our natural resources i.e. sunlight and four gallons of water. Furthermore, the homegrown renewable fuel will provide more jobs within the county.

However, efforts should be made to aware and educate the citizens, especially farmers, for the use of biofuels and creating a new household income and booming our economy and make us self- reliant.

Is E-85 really economical?

Another important thing we’d like to highlight here is that, as pointed by a few users, E-85 is not economical and hence might not catch up fast amongst the consumers. The percentage mileage reduction is stunningly low and discourages users for an instant shift. Critics point out that E-85 merely turns ‘gas guzzlers into corn guzzlers.’

So, in order to make the renewable energy more practical, the fuel economy should be reduced by at least 30% and that can only be possible if the price difference is also at least 30%.

Image Credit: Iowacorn

Via: Domestic Fuel76074