General Motors is partnering with ten different states to help them produce more Ethanol.  Ethanol is the main ingredient in E85, a blend of gasoline that is 85% Ethanol and 15% gas.  Only certain cars can run on E85, the new Chevy Volt being one of them.  The vehicles engine has to be built to withstand the corrosion that the high concentration of ethanol would produce.

“The infrastructure for E-85 needs to expand now if the nation is to be ready for the significant growth in ethanol coming from new cellulosic sources,” said Beth Lowery, GM vice president of environment, energy and safety policy. “We need a range of alternatives to offset growing oil demand in this country and globally.”

Among the states are Alabama, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Tennessee and Wisconsin in the new partnership.  GM is providing technical assistance to the states to help them produce ethanol in the most efficient manner.  It is also helping the states find ideal locations for E85 supplied gas stations.

“Increasing the use of E-85 makes all the sense in the world,” said Alabama Governor Riley.  “E-85 is a less expensive fueling option that is better for our environment and helps reduce our dependence on foreign oil,” said Governor Riley.  “And because it’s made from crops grown by our farmers, E-85 is a real growth opportunity for our rural economy.”

I think E85 can be a big boon to our quest for energy independence.  I, however, don’t think that using corn to produce it is the way to get it.  Food prices are high enough already, we don’t need to replace land used for growing food with land used for growing fuel.  There are alternatives to crops, many companies are working on solutions that would use methods to produce ethanol in big factories out in remote places.  That is a much more viable option for the long term.