Environmental implications of higher ethanol production and use in the U.S.: A literature review. Part I – Impacts on water, soil, and air quality

S. Kent Hoekman, Amber Broch and Liu, Xiaowei (Vivian)

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2018, vol. 81, issue P2, 3140-3158

Abstract: To address issues of energy security and greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation, substantial amounts of corn-derived ethanol are used in U.S. gasoline. Currently, ethanol comprises 10% of the U.S. gasoline pool (E10), but there is interest in increasing this – possibly doubling the amount currently used. Production of corn ethanol raises several concerns with respect to environmental and ecological impacts. This paper reviews the available literature regarding the impacts on water, soil, and air quality. A companion paper addresses issues of biodiversity, ecosystems, land use change, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and sustainability. We emphasize recent information appearing since comprehensive reports on this topic were issued by the U.S. EPA and NRC/NAS in 2011.

Keywords: Ethanol; E20; Environmental impacts; Water quality; Air quality; SOC (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:rensus:v:81:y:2018:i:p2:p:3140-3158

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DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2017.05.050

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