From Clean Fuels Ohio fall 2006 newsletter

There's been a lot of talk in the media in the past year about the energy balance of E85. Some news stories cite research showing that corn-based ethanol production has a negative energy balance—in other words, more energy is used to make ethanol than is provided when it is used. Other studies show just the opposite—that ethanol's energy balance is positive. So which is it?

A wide range of studies conducted over the past ten years by the U.S. Departments of Energy and Agriculture, Michigan State University, and Institute of Local Self-Reliance all demonstrate a positive energy balance for ethanol made from corn. The only conflicting study was conducted by a retired entomologist from Cornell University. This study ignored the energy value of dry distiller's grains and was flawed in several other respects.

Good science clearly demonstrates a positive energy balance for corn-based ethanol. The energy balance equation gets even better as we move towards ethanols made from corncobs, switchgrass, and waste paper. With this 'cellulosic' ethanol, the net energy in a gallon of ethanol can be as high as 60,000 BTU. In addition, ethanol use decreases greenhouse gas emissions because the corn or other plants use carbon dioxide as they grow, according to government and university research.

In the final analysis, remember that gasoline has always had a negative energy balance. That makes ethanol a better deal no matter what is used to make it.