Although the debate over corn ethanol, Food vs. Fuel is well recognized people rarely know the full details of corn ethanol production. Despite the negative things said about corn ethanol, there are benefits. Ethanol has many benefits, some of which are energy security, fuel economy and performance, job opportunities, lower emissions, and equipment and availability.
The most popularly known benefit for ethanol compared to gasoline is that ethanol produces lower emissions. Lower emissions means less greenhouse gases in the atmosphere slowing global warming. This benefits everyone, not just the U.S. because we all share the atmosphere.
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According to the U.S. Department of Energy, ethanol has a higher octane
level than gasoline therefore it creates higher power and performance.
Although this comes at a trade-off, ethanol has less energy than
gasoline.
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As many know, the U.S. reliance on foreign oils has been a major topic of debate in the media over the past decade. There have been wars and ongoing political debates over the issue. Ethanol production gives us some energy security for an unpredictable future.
With such a large amount of resources and subsidies devoted to corn ethanol production, it is not surprising that there is a large job market for corn ethanol production. In 2011, ethanol production supported more than 400,000 jobs.
To learn more about ethanol's benefits:
http://www.afdc.energy.gov/fuels/ethanol_benefits.html
