S&S Student Activity 32.2: The Ethanol Alternative
Activity 32.2: The Ethanol Alternative
Become an “expert” on one aspect of the issue of whether or not the production and use of ethanol fuels should be promoted. With the other members of your group, formulate an energy policy that does or does not include ethanol as an alternative fuel.
Web Resources: Research for the Debate
These links will help you get started on your research. Scroll down to find your group, then follow the links.
The Corn Fuel Ethanol Home Page is produced by the Ontario Corn Growers Association and provides some interesting links to other resources, as well as information about the use of ethanol for fuel in Canada.
The National Corn Growers Association home page includes facts about ethanol and how it can be used as a fuel for automobiles. Information about the fuel itself and vehicles designed to use it is available.
Alcohols as Motor Fuels includes valuable information about both ethanol and methanol for use in motor vehicles. Also, many links to related sites about fuel cells, hydrogen, and regulatory agencies are listed.
This Newswire article from February, 1998, describes a test of Ford Minivans using E85 in use by the U.S. Postal Service.
Methyl-tert-butyl ether (MTBE) is the other major fuel additive used to oxygenate fuels. This page, from the EPA’s web site, discusses air and water quality issues involved in the use of MTBE.
Proposal Submitted to the United States Geological Survey from the Montana Department of Environmental Quality outlines some of the hazards of MTBE use and a possible method for remediating contaminated groundwater supplies.
Outlook for Biomass Ethanol
U.S. Department of Energy report containing facts and figures about US ethanol use and production.
Ethanol: Myths and Realities from Business Week Magazine
Ethanol Fuel from the Journey to Forever Organization