Ethanol is a domestically-produced renewable alternative fuel that can be used to offset gasoline and diesel consumption. Ethanol is already used in 95% of U.S. gasoline stations via low-level E10 blending (10% ethanol, 90% gasoline). Ethanol is made from plant materials and is a renewable, domestically produced, biodegradable fuel that offers a variety of benefits.

Ethanol is also available as E85 (or flex fuel), which can be used in flexible fuel vehicles, designed to operate on any blend of gasoline and ethanol up to 83%. Another blend, E15, has been approved for use in newer vehicles, and is slowly becoming available.

Learn more about ethanol.

Benefits

• Ethanol is projected to have a meaningful positive influence on the nation’s economy. Utilizing ethanol as a transportation fuel source will boost the economy by creating domestic jobs. In 2011, ethanol production contributed $42 billion to the nation’s GDP.

​​

• On an individual level, ethanol and ethanol blends tend to have a lower average price per gallon compared to conventional gasoline. 

​​

• Ethanol carries significant health and environmental impacts. Ethanol is oxygenated and burns more completely than gasoline, therefore it carries a lower emissions rate. This results in reduced harmful tailpipe emissions of CO2, particulate matter, hydrocarbon, and oxides of nitrogen. Ethanol is a carbon neutral fuel with zero net carbon emissions. Most notably, ethanol can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 52% compared to gasoline emissions.  Ethanol can be blended into gasoline at varying levels, providing customizable emissions savings. This fuel is also nontoxic, biodegradable, sulfur-free, and water-soluble, providing no environmental harms. 

Learn More