Global Ethanol Production Forecast to Reduce Green House Gas Emissions by 105 Million Tons in 2011

In 2011, ethanol production will reduce global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 105 million tons worldwide according to new data released by (S&T)2 Consultants Inc.  This is equivalent to a reduction of more than 287,000 tons every day.

"This data supports what corn farmers across the country have known for many years now: ethanol is an environmentally responsible, affordable, domestic energy source," says National Corn Growers Association President Bart Schott, a grower from Kulm, ND.  "With more conclusive evidence coming to light each day, it becomes more and more obvious that ethanol is a key to meeting not only our own, but the world's, energy needs."

Specifically:

• World ethanol production is currently replacing the need for one million barrels of crude oil per day, which would otherwise create 545,000 tons of GHG emissions/day.
• In 2010, world ethanol production was 22.63 billion gallons and is estimated to have reduced GHG emissions by 101 million tons, a reduction of more than 276,000 tons/day. The total reduction would be the equivalent of taking 18.7 million cars off the road or of the total GHG emissions reported by Austria in 2005.
• In cooperation with F.O. Licht, the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance predicts global ethanol production this year will grow by more than 3%, totaling 23.43 billion gallons. This increase in production will result in a 9% growth in GHG reductions.

The data, announced in a press release sent by the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA), was released as the biofuels industry gathered for the annual World Biofuels Markets conference.  GRFA is a non-profit group dedicated to promoting biofuel-friendly policies.  Alliance members represent more than 65% of the global biofuels production from 44 countries.