In the United States today, more and more people are demanding alternative fuels instead of strictly gasoline powered vehicles, and for many reasons. One reason is that alternative fuels are better for the environment and help fight global warming, which is an ongoing and increasing concern of many in the U. S. as well as globally. The cost of gasoline and other petroleum based products are rising at rate that has, heretofore, been unprecedented. Automobile travel is becoming very expensive as a result, and the U. S. is a nation that relies on its transportation. Consequently, there is an increasing demand for less expensive, alternative fuels. Scientists are charged with a double task, creating fuels that are inexpensive and better for the environment. New alternative fuels currently becoming available offer a number of advantages and U. S. consumers are beginning to seriously consider the newly available options, over continued dependence on fossil fuels.
When consumers choose alternative fuels both for their automobiles and their homes, they are helping to save the environment and themselves some money. In 2005, the U. S. National Academy of Sciences issued a joint statement with 10 other National Academies of Science stating “the scientific understanding of climate change is now sufficiently clear to justify nations taking prompt action. It is vital that all nations identify cost-effective steps that they can take now, to contribute to substantial and long-term reduction in net global greenhouse gas emissions. ” Alternative fuels are one step toward lessening greenhouse gas emissions.
What Does “Alternative Fuel” Mean?
Put simply, alternative fuel is not created through refining crude oil. Alternatives should replace conventional petroleum products as a means of powering vehicles or warming homes. The Clean Air Act of 1990 was written to encourage the development, sale, and use of alternative forms of energy. However, the Clean Air Act also stresses that the “alternative” fuels have beneficial effects for the environment, in short, whatever form the alternative takes; it can’t be as polluting as petroleum-based products.
“Alternative fuels” is a title that encompasses many different types of energy – Ethanol, is one that has been in the news quite a bit lately. It is made from corn, which can provide a tremendous boost to the agricultural industries, as well as to the environment and end-users. Some basic facts about ethanol includes: One acre of corn can produce enough ethanol to run a car for some 72,000 miles on E-10 Unleaded. About 46 percent of U. S. gasoline contains ethanol-and most of that is in the form of E-10 Unleaded. It can be made from other organic materials also, such as soybeans, waste, plant material left from logging, paper and trash. So, it can also be produced through recycling, another huge environmental advantage. In addition, automobile manufacturers are looking at ways of using ethanol only; however, since it is a grain alcohol, it is more highly combustible than regular gasoline. Currently, research is focusing on ways of buffering the ethanol to reduce its potentially dangerous properties.
Ethanol is also found in regular alcoholic beverages. The ethanol used for gasoline has been “denatured”; this means poison has been added so that it is unfit for human consumption. While some argue that ethanol production more energy than it produces, which is initially true when starting up a plant, Ethanol production results in a net energy gain-producing 67 percent more energy than it takes to grow and process the corn into ethanol in the long run. In addition, technologies are in development to increase the efficiency of plant production.
The movement toward alternative fuels will increase as people become more conscious of the economic and environmental costs of fossil fuels. In addition, many Americans feel that, for a variety of reasons, dependence upon foreign oil is not in the best interests of their nation. New, alternative fuels offer the best option for ending the U. S. dependence upon fossil fuels. While ethanol has been getting a lot of attention lately, there are many other types of fuel under development that offer a selection of future options for energy.