EPA Web Site Provides Updated Ethanol Information

Published May 1, 2006

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), cars designed to use E85 (a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline) provide the following pollution reductions:

  • Organic compound emissions are reduced by 15 percent.
  • Carbon monoxide emissions are reduced by 40 percent.
  • Particulate emissions are reduced by 20 percent.
  • Nitrogen oxide emissions are reduced by 10 percent.
  • Sulfate emissions are reduced by 80 percent.

EPA also reports that in the Midwest, ethanol blends are sold at prices equivalent to or less than mid-grade gasoline.

“All the resources needed to produce [ethanol] can be supplied domestically,” EPA observes.

For a more complete discussion of the pros and cons of ethanol fuel, visit the EPA Web site http://www.epa.gov/OMS/consumer/fuels/altfuels/420f00035.pdf.

— James Hoare