1. The Ethanol Debate
Common Threads IV
Common Threads IV – Ethanol

2. What is ethanol? Also called ethyl alcohol
A flammable, colourless liquid
Can be used as a fuel, as an alternative to gasoline
Easy to manufacture
Common Threads IV – Ethanol

3. Making Ethanol
Ethanol can be made from a variety of crops, including corn and sugarcane
Corn
Sugarcane
Common Threads IV – Ethanol

4. Making Ethanol
The process includes fermentation, distillation and dehydration
Fermentation of sugarcane
Common Threads IV – Ethanol

5. Ethanol vs. Gasoline
Ethanol requires less energy to manufacture than gasoline.
Common Threads IV – Ethanol

6. Ethanol vs. Gasoline
Ethanol uses a renewable resource, while gasoline does not.
Common Threads IV – Ethanol

7. Ethanol vs. Gasoline
Ethanol produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions than gasoline.
Common Threads IV – Ethanol

8. However…
Common Threads IV – Ethanol

9. Ethanol and Food
One of the concerns with ethanol is that crop land is being used for producing fuel, rather than the food that is needed in many countries
Common Threads IV – Ethanol

10. Ethanol and Food
Because so many of the products we use rely on corn, if there is less corn available because of its diversion to fuel, then the cost of food may increase.
Common Threads IV – Ethanol

11. What do you think of ethanol?
Common Threads IV – Ethanol