By Matt Whetstone
Cadillac NewsCADILLAC - By 2025, 75 percent of vehicles in the UnitedState could be running on E85, a blend of gasoline and ethanol.
Ultimately, the spread of the environmentally friendly, cheaper fuel will be driven by consumers instead of politicians, experts say. Still, elected officials all the way up to President Bush are implementing strategies and mandates that will require ethanol use.
In Michigan, Rep. Joel Sheltrown, D-West Branch, said the strategy is to provide incentives, such as grants, for gas station owners to install pumps and provides tax credits to the consumer. The legislation that is working through the state is far from efforts proposed by state Democrats, who call for a 10 percent ethanol mandate for all gas in Michigan.
"Car manufacturers see no problem with 10 percent; anything over that, they have concerns," Sheltrown said. "With 10 percent or less, they feel confident it won't harm the vehicle - you can buy it now and not even know you're getting it."
But buying ethanol in Michigan is not easy. The National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition reports only four stations in the state are offering the fuel blend with the nearest in Greenville. Nationally, there are 685 public fueling locations that offer ethanol out of 165,000 gas stations, or about 0.41 percent. There are 6 million "flexible fuel vehicles" or FFVs on the road in the nation.
"Consumers are familiar with gas, they've been using it their entire lives," said Michelle Kautz, spokeswoman for the NEVC. "Change some Americans are not willing to do - the demand is not there."
Prices are the main arena for a boost in consumer interest. However, they have remained fairly high, Kautz said, leaving consumers who have a choice sticking with the familiar option.
The hope is that as more ethanol manufacturing plants are built - 33 are slated in the next year - the price will drop and consumer interest will rise.
In Michigan, there is only one such facility located in Caro. The company produces 45 million gallons a year or 1 percent of the 4.5 billion gallons that the country's 97 ethanol plants produce.
Bob Craig, director of the Agriculture Development Division with the Michigan Department of Agriculture, said four ethanol facilities are being constructed in the state in the next two years. The facilities are located in Riga, LakeOdessa, Albion and Marysville.
Most ethanol consumed in Michigan, about 151 million gallons in 2003, was imported and consumed in 10 percent blends. Less than 1 percent of ethanol fuel is the 85 percent blend.
"People should be asking for this product," Craig said. "Until people start asking at their local service stations, what we in the government do or any incentive, it's not going to make a difference until people start asking."
Locally, gas station owners don't have ethanol on their radar screens. Bob Sake, co-owner of Thirsty's on M-55, said alternative fuels have not been discussed with him by Mobil.
Sheltrown said it comes down to not being aggressive enough.
"I know the president in his last major speech said he wanted to see 75 percent usage by 2025," he said. "That to me is just not at all aggressive enough. Gas is $2.61 a gallon, there's no Katrina now - this is not a good situation."
Ethanol is better for the environment, costs less and, as an added benefit, can greatly help farmers because it is developed from corn, Sheltrown said.
"There is so much uncertainty in the oil market - they have their hands on our throat," he said. "We can reduce demand and fight back with renewable sources."
Concerning a switch in Michigan to renewable fuels, Craig said a lot hinges on whether the state legislature approves the incentive packages.
To see if your car can is a flexible fuel vehicle and can run on E85, visit www.e85fuel.com. The Web site has E85-capable vehicles listed by manufacturer.
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What is E85?
E85 is the term for motor fuel blends of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. It is defined as an alternative fuel by the U.S. Department of Energy. Ethanol burns cleaner than gasoline, is renewable, domestic and environmentally friendly.
Government tests have shown that E85 vehicles reduce harmful hydrocarbon and benzene emissions when compared to vehicles running on gasoline. It can also reduce carbon dioxide (C02), a harmful greenhouse gas and a major contributor to global warming.
Although CO2 is released during ethanol production and combustion, it is recaptured as a nutrient by the crops that are used in its production. Fossil fuel combustion unlocks carbon that has been stored for millions of years.
Ethanol also degrades quickly in water, therefore posing much less risk to the environment than an oil or gas spill.
Source: National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition
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