| Ethanol fuel is changing our lives and | | | | of the country, as well as other parts of the |
| changing the economy in ways no one | | | | globe. E10 is a typical mixture. It is common |
| anticipated before, with energy costs rising | | | | in the Midwestern United States. Many other |
| every day, there has been an increased | | | | countries around the world start to consider |
| interest in ethanol fuel. Ethanol is a | | | | using ethanol instead of regular fuel, |
| variety of alcohol that can be produced in a | | | | Denmark for example, has also begun using |
| natural fashion, similar to the way in which | | | | this type of ethanol fuel. It appears to be |
| alcoholic beverages are produced. Ethanol can | | | | doing well, though its use is not as |
| be used by itself in some specially designed | | | | extensive as many of its proponents had hoped |
| vehicles, but it can also be used as a fuel | | | | it would be. There is still a long way for |
| additive, stretching traditional fuels in | | | | ethanol to become a natural option for fuel, |
| times of economic or environmental hardship. | | | | the United States had used ethanol fuel for |
| Ethanol is used today by more people ever | | | | less than one percent of its gasoline needs |
| before, simply because of the cheap | | | | in the year 2002. |
| alternative to the soaring gas prices. | | | | |
| | | | The other big issue surrounding ethanol is |
| Using ethanol fuel as an alternative to gas | | | | the environmental issue, it is still not |
| does require motorists to get a special | | | | absolutely clear that ethanol is in fact |
| ethanol kit and install it in their cars, but | | | | environment friendly, and whether the |
| since gas prices have been unstable in the | | | | environmental aspects of ethanol fuel are as |
| last years many people feel that making that | | | | good as they have been previously described |
| kind of investment will prove financially | | | | by the supporters of ethanol fuel use. The |
| profitable in the future. | | | | growing concern is that while the use of |
| | | | ethanol by itself may be good for the |
| Ethanol fuel that is derived from crops has | | | | environment, the resources and work done to |
| advantages over traditional fossil fuels. The | | | | provide the production of the ethanol could |
| ethanol fuel is obtained from the sugars and | | | | be potentially dangerous for the forests, |
| starches in crops like corn and grains. It | | | | rainforests and areas where the corn and |
| also burns cleaner than petroleum based fuels | | | | other ethanol producing resources are being |
| due to its chemical composition, alleviating | | | | grown. While it is true that the fuel can be |
| some of the strain placed on the environment | | | | made from renewable resources there is |
| by exhaust emissions. The increased | | | | evidence that some rainforests are actually |
| consumption of corn for ethanol use has | | | | being cleared to make space for crops that |
| already started to affect the corn farms | | | | are used in the production of ethanol. As the |
| projections of yearly crops. | | | | controversy regarding the production of |
| | | | ethanol and its dangers, it is very clear |
| Blended ethanol fuel has proven to be an | | | | that this alternative source of energy is |
| effective source of energy for several parts | | | | becoming more and more popular. |