Argonne expert addresses energy, environmental impacts of fuel ethanol

ARGONNE, Ill. (Aug. 23, 2005) — A recent national debate has arisen over the net energy and environmental benefits of ethanol as a substitute for gasoline in transportation fuels. Argonne researcher Michael Wang, a world-leading expert in this field, presented the results of his research today at the Ethanol Energy Open Forum, sponsored by the National Corn Growers Association at the National Press Club, Washington, D.C.

Conclusions from Wang's presentation include:

• Energy balance value alone is not meaningful in evaluating the benefit of ethanol or any other energy product. For proper evaluation, a product's energy balance must be compared with that of the product it replaces.

• Compared to gasoline, any type of fuel ethanol substantially helps reduce fossil energy and petroleum use.

• Ethanol produced from corn can achieve moderate reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

• Ethanol produced from "cellulosic" plants, such as grass and weeds, can achieve much greater energy and greenhouse gas benefits.

Wang's PowerPoint presentation is available for downloading.

The nation's first national laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory conducts basic and applied scientific research across a wide spectrum of disciplines, ranging from high-energy physics to climatology and biotechnology. Since 1990, Argonne has worked with more than 600 companies and numerous federal agencies and other organizations to help advance America's scientific leadership and prepare the nation for the future. Argonne is managed by the University of Chicago for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science.

For more information, please contact Catherine Foster (630/252-5580 or cfoster@anl.gov) at Argonne.