The FuturE85 Is In Our Hands
Environmental & Economical Benefits of an Alternative Fuel
By Susan Wisniewski
t is time to organize a global effort to recognize the severity of climate change. We need to assess the causes, consider the repercussions, realize how the automobile contributes to the destruction of the environment, and take a step toward preserving the planet.
Hazards of Climate Change
Concern has heightened over the last decade over the continued rise in greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) and the related hazards of climate change. “Climate models predict that floods, droughts and severe storms are likely to be become more frequent and severe, costing agriculture harvests, economic progress, and lives” according to Greenhouse Gas Protocol, 2003. The timeline of natural disasters since 2003 listed in Table 1 unfortunately validates the perceptive phenomenon.
Vehicle Use Excretes the Most CO2 Emissions
Businesses are a major contributor to GHG emissions—especially in the automotive industry
(http://www.earthtrends.wri.org). However, according to The World Resources Institute, “while CO2 emissions arise at nearly
every stage of a motor vehicle’s life—including extraction of raw materials and manufacturing of component parts—it is the
combustion of gasoline and diesel fuels during vehicle use that accounts for the greatest share of vehicle-related CO2
emissions.”
Although automobile manufacturers take significant action to reduce CO2 emissions at the assembly stage even though they
are not required by law to do so, potentially much greater reductions are possible in the vehicle use phase. “For example, a
5 percent reduction in use phase emissions per vehicle on a 1996 [midsize vehicle] rated at 28 miles per gallon, will save 3.75
metric tons of CO2 over the vehicle’s lifetime—3 metric tons from avoided gasoline combustion and 0.75 metric tons from
avoided fuel production. A 5 percent reduction in assembly-related emissions will save only 0.1 metric tons of CO2 per vehicle” (http://www.earthtrends.wri.org).
Renewable Fuel is Available and Protects the Environment and Economy
While innovative automotive advancements are being made in the fields of hybrid technology, hydrogen combustion engines,
fuel cell technology and clean diesels, promoting renewable fuel usage proposes a more immediate natural solution to
environmental, economic and energy security concerns. Renewable fuel usage is a critical step toward protecting the
environment and public health. Since the Bush Administration refuses to officially mandate the reduction of CO2 emissions, it
remains the responsibility of consumers who drive automobiles. It is important to recognize that efficient and renewable sources
of energy are becoming more readily available and more vehicles are equipped to swallow alternative fuels. Utilizing alternative
fuels not only improves air quality and reduces harmful emissions of carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases, but also reduces U.S.
dependence on foreign oil (http://www.cars.com).
“ETHANOL” You Need to Know...
What is Ethanol?
Companies such as GM have taken the initiative to provide new fueling opportunities for the millions of vehicles already on the
road that can run seamlessly on either conventional gasoline or plant-based ethanol. According to the U.S. Department of
Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, ethanol is “an alcohol-based alternative fuel produced by fermenting and
distilling starch crops that have been converted into simple sugars. Feedstocks for this fuel include corn, barley, and wheat.
Ethanol is most commonly used to increase octane and improve the emissions quality of gasoline” (http://www.eere.energy.gov).
The Fuel for the FuturE-85
Ethanol can be combined with gasoline to create E85, a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline
(http://www.eere.energy.gov). The alternative fuel, E85, as defined by the U.S. Department of Energy, is “a completely
renewable, domestic, environmentally friendly fuel that enhances the nation’s economy and energy independence.” As
maintained by the United States Department of Energy. “ 81 ethanol plants in 20 states have the capacity
to produce nearly 4.4 billions gallons annually and an additional 16 plants are under construction to add another 750 million
gallons of capacity [which] compares to more than 4 million barrels (at 42 gallons per barrel) of gasoline per day produced in
the United States” (Mike Thomas, Ford Communications Network.).
Flex-Fuel Vehicles
Vehicles that run on E85 are called flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) and are offered by several vehicle manufacturers
(http://www.eere.energy.gov). For instance, General Motors has nine flex-fuel vehicles that run on E85 or gasoline in any
proportions. The company has more than a million and a half such vehicles on the road right now in the U.S. and current plans
call for the addition of more than 2 million more through the 2010 model year (http://www.livegreengoyellow.com). Ford Motor
Company announced that the company also plans to increase the existence ethanol-powered vehicles
according to Mike Thomas, Ford Communications Network. With a flex-fuel vehicle, you don’t have to fill up with E85 every
time. A fuel system computer adjusts for the amount of ethanol in the fuel allowing you to “flexibly” alternate which type of fuel
you wish to use (http://www.ncga.com). To check which automobiles are E85 compatible, visit: http://www.e85fuel.com.
E85 Pump Locations
The number of E85 fueling stations is growing dramatically. To locate pumps nationally, visit: http://www.e85fuel.com.
It’s TimE85 to Start Thinking of the FuturE85
Individual consumers have the ability and power to make a difference. We must take responsibility for contributing to the related hazards of climate change and begin to take action to preserve the environment.
Addressing climate change is no simple task. To protect ourselves, our economy, and our land from the adverse effects of climate change, we must ultimately dramatically reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. To achieve this goal we must fundamentally transform the way we power our global economy, shifting away from a century’s legacy of unrestrained fossil fuel use and its associated emissions in pursuit of more efficient and renewable sources of energy. Such a transformation will require society to engage in a concerted effort, over the near and long-term, to seek out opportunities and design actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (http://www.pewclimate.org/global-warming-basics/).
The alternative fuel, E85 is a natural, immediate solution to improving air quality and reducing CO2 emissions. It is also a means of hastening the nation’s conversion to fuel independence. At the launch of a book of scientific papers on the global climate crisis, Henry Derwent, special climate change advisor to British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, stated, “Climate change is worse than was previously thought and we need to act now” (Reuters: January 31, 2006). The environment needs to return to the political limelight as it did back on April 22, 1970 when the first Earth Day was held. Senator Gaylord Nelson, founder of Earth Day reported that, “The success was due to the spontaneous response at the grassroots level.” Perhaps the time has come for communities across the globe to plant more seeds. The FuturE85 is in our hands.
