Essay --

How different would the U.S. be if it were not energy dependent upon the Middle Eastern nations? It is estimated that the get together States used over 18.6 million barrels per day (MMbd) of petroleum products during 2012. (How dependent are we on foreign vegetable oil?) The U.S.s dependence on oil has caused major difficulties regarding its military and economic status. However, biochemists in the U.S. have discovered new ways to decrease the U.S.s dependence on foreign oil. By ferment and distilling the sugars of corn, biochemists can create an organic compound called bioethanol (or denatured ethanol) that, when mixed with conventional natural gas, can be able to operate cars. Environmentalists have stated that ethanol may be much detrimental to the atmosphere than traditional gasoline. In addition, carmakers have noted that the use of ethanol may cause problems in cars engines. Does the benefit of the States being energy dependent outweigh the speculated detrimental conseque nces of using ethanol?Ethanol is usually combined with traditional gasoline to create gasohol or gasoline and alcohol. In fact, one-third of gasoline sold in the US is mixed with ethanol. (Giametta) Adding ethanol lowers carbon dioxide emissions, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Carbon emissions occur when the fuel electrocution of the car is not fully completed. An incomplete combustion may yield carbon, carbon monoxide, and other chemicals. Ethanol is thirty percent oxygen. Adding oxygen yields a more complete fuel combustion therefore, it would lower the amount of carbon emissions. There are two types of ethanol gas that can operate regular, unmodified cars E10 and E15. E10 has a concentration of ninety percent gasoline and ten percent ethanol, while ... ...uction can get rid of waste and make fuel. Also From farm to car, cellulosic ethanol releases little greenhouse gas than gasoline (86 percent less) and corn ethanol (52 percent less than gasoline).(Nasr) Cellulosi c ethanol shows promising benefits, besides it also has its own share of consequences. It, exchangeable corn ethanol, will significantly decrease a cars mpg. Growing the biomass needed to create the ethanol is another matter at hand. leave alone the U.S. have enough land to grow enough plant biomass to satisfy the demand? Cellulosic ethanol emits greenhouse gases as well, so in reality, it doesnt especially solve the problem of greenhouse gases. Hopefully, in the near future, we will be able to mass produce an alternative fuel without any detrimental consequences, but until that time arrives, I believe that corn ethanol isnt worth the financial and environmental risks.