Sunday, February 28, 2010

Brazil Flex Fuel Cars Cut 83.5 Million Tons of CO2 since 2003


















Brazilian use of flex-fuel cars, which run on any mix of gasoline and ethanol, have prevented 83.5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions since 2003, according to UNICA, the country’s main sugarcane growers association. The amount of the greenhouse gases such vehicles prevented from entering the environment is equal about a fifth of annual emissions in Brazil, the world’s eighth-largest economy, according to the United Nations. Thanks to laws requiring hydrous ethanol pumps in all filling stations in Brazil and requiring all gasoline blends to be 20-25% anhydrous ethanol, biofuels made up 22.3% of fuel use in 2009, 14% more than 2008. (See related article: EPA Confims Sugarcane Ethanol is a Low Carbon, Advanced Renewable Fuel).

Brazil Flex Fuel Cars Cut 83.5 Million Tons of CO2 since 2003


















Brazilian use of flex-fuel cars, which run on any mix of gasoline and ethanol, have prevented 83.5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions since 2003, according to UNICA, the country’s main sugarcane growers association. The amount of the greenhouse gases such vehicles prevented from entering the environment is equal about a fifth of annual emissions in Brazil, the world’s eighth-largest economy, according to the United Nations. Thanks to laws requiring hydrous ethanol pumps in all filling stations in Brazil and requiring all gasoline blends to be 20-25% anhydrous ethanol, biofuels made up 22.3% of fuel use in 2009, 14% more than 2008. (See related article: EPA Confims Sugarcane Ethanol is a Low Carbon, Advanced Renewable Fuel).

U.S. Produced 10.7 Billion Gallons of Corn Ethanol in 2009







The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) says U.S. corn ethanol production exceeded 10.75 billion gallons in 2009, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

“Despite trying economic circumstances, America’s ethanol producers once again rose up to meet the challenges the nation has put before it,” said RFA President Bob Dinneen. “Moving forward, once-idled facilities are restarting and new biorefineries are coming online to ensure that the volumes of ethanol called for in the Renewable Fuels Standard are met by domestic supplies.” (See related article: USDA: More Corn Crop will go to Ethanol)

U.S. Produced 10.7 Billion Gallons of Corn Ethanol in 2009







The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) says U.S. corn ethanol production exceeded 10.75 billion gallons in 2009, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

“Despite trying economic circumstances, America’s ethanol producers once again rose up to meet the challenges the nation has put before it,” said RFA President Bob Dinneen. “Moving forward, once-idled facilities are restarting and new biorefineries are coming online to ensure that the volumes of ethanol called for in the Renewable Fuels Standard are met by domestic supplies.” (See related article: USDA: More Corn Crop will go to Ethanol)

Dodging Icebergs and Storms on the Hunt for an Ocean Tipping Point. Scientists fear warming is driving a collapse in the ocean currents that shape climate far and wide. The ice-choked waters off Greenland might hold the key.

  By Raymond Zhong Photographs and Video by Esther Horvath Arctic   Greenland Raymond Zhong and Esther Horvath spent two weeks aboard the re...