Ethanol

Ethanol is an alcohol-based alternative fuel produced by fermenting and distilling starch crops that have been converted into simple sugars. Feedstocks for this fuel include corn, barley, and wheat. Ethanol can also be produced from "cellulosic biomass" such as trees and grasses and is called bioethanol. Ethanol is most commonly used to increase octane and improve the emissions quality of gasoline.

Ethanol can be blended with gasoline to create E85, a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. E85 and blends with even higher concentrations of ethanol, E95, for example, qualify as alternative fuels under the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct). Vehicles that run on E85 are called flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) and are offered by several vehicle manufacturers. See the ethanol vehicles page for more information on FFVs.

In some areas of the United States, lower concentrations of ethanol are blended with gasoline. The most common low concentration blend is E10 (10% ethanol and 90% gasoline). While it reduces emissions, E10 is not considered an alternative fuel under EPAct regulations.

Quick Facts

• Illinois is one of the leading producers of ethanol in the U.S.
• About 90 percent of the gasoline sold in Illinois contains 10 percent ethanol.
• Illinois uses about 470 million gallons of ethanol for fuel each year.
• There is currently no Illinois sales tax on E-85.
• Illinois turns out over 1 billion bushels of corn each year, of which 1/6 is used to produce ethanol.
• One bushel of corn yields 2.8 gallons of ethanol and and 18 lbs. of Distillers Grains from dry mill ethanol plants.
• Over 4 billion gallons of ethanol are produced in the U.S. each year and many new plants are currently under construction.
• Over 30 percent of all gasoline sold in the U.S. contains ethanol.
• Ethanol reduces greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles.
• Ethanol fuel reduces our dependence on foreign oil.
• All cars sold in the U.S. are factory warranted for the use of gasoline containing up to 10 percent ethanol.
• E-85 fuel is composed of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline.

If you are interested in learning more about our ethanol, would like to place an order, check current prices, or to obtain further information, please contact:

CHS Renewable Fuels Marketing
Mo Elafandi
651-355-8529
Mo.Elafandi@chsinc.com