An excellent resource to learn more about ethanol and other fuels is the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and the Alternative Fuels & Advanced Vehicles Data Center.

As posted on this government site, "This Ethanol subsite represents a joint effort of the U.S. Department of Energy's Biomass and Vehicle Technologies Programs and covers the entire production cycle of ethanol, from the field to the fuel tank. For information on other biofuels, go to the Fuels section." http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/ethanol/index.html

As more focus is turning to cellulosic ethanol as an alternative fuel that does not impact our food supply, here's a section of their web site that discusses cellulosic feedstock: http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/ethanol/feedstocks_cellulosic.html

Another important information page covers "Ethanol Energy Balance" - where information is presented that looks at corn-based ethanol and cellulosic ethanol and more recent studies that point to a positive energy balance (not the negative energy balance as reported in earlier studies). Decide for yourself but please look at all the latest information so you have the facts - not the "facts" as reported in some online, TV, and newspaper reports. You decide.
http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/ethanol/balance.html

 

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