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.
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