Ethanol is responsible for removing the carbon equivalent of 20 million cars from the road. ... A smaller carbon footprint and an increase in energy efficiency. Ethanol use reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 40-45 percent compared to gasoline–even when hypothetical land-use change emissions are included.

What is ethanol and why is it significant?

Ethanol is an important industrial chemical; it is used as a solvent, in the synthesis of other organic chemicals, and as an additive to automotive gasoline (forming a mixture known as a gasohol). Ethanol is also the intoxicating ingredient of many alcoholic beverages such as beer, wine, and distilled spirits.

How does ethanol benefit the environment?

Ethanol can reduce pollution

These evaporative emissions contribute to the formation of harmful, ground-level ozone and smog. Gasoline requires extra processing to reduce evaporative emissions before blending with ethanol. Producing and burning ethanol results in emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), a greenhouse gas.