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Future Fuel
Ethanol: Cleaner alternative for tomorrow
by Courtney Bullard, co-news
editor
New
opportunities have been created with an addition of an
ethanol plant to Levelland’s industry.
The
Levelland/Hockley County Ethanol plant is located on Texas
Highway 114, six miles east of Levelland. It is expected
to be operating by Feb. 21, according to Sam Socca, general
manager for Levelland/Hockley County Ethanol. The
groundbreaking of the Levelland/Hockley County Ethanol
company was in October of 2006, and construction began in
January of 2007. It was constructed on a 223-acre site, and
it is expected to produce 40 million gallons of ethanol per
year.
Ethanol is
an alcohol made from renewable resources such as corn and
milo, which is a grain. It is used to replace harmful
additives such as Methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBEs),
decreasing carbon monoxide and volatile organic compound
emissions. MTBE is made from methanol.
Ethanol
reduces carbon monoxide emissions by 22 percent more than
any other transportation fuel, and it reduces greenhouse
gases that cause global warming by approximately 40 percent.
It also enhances engine performance by increasing octane and
raising oxygen levels, cleaning and preventing engine
deposits and acting as a gas-line anti-freeze.
Using
ethanol would mean using a little less oil, while it also is
non-toxic and biodegradable. Although ethanol can be turned
into an alternative fuel E85, which is 85 percent ethanol
and 15 percent gasoline, it is not likely it will become the
main source of fuel for the United States.
Only 12
percent of America’s motoring fuel would be met if every
acre of corn were used to produce fuel and not food. Most
ethanol used for transportation is E10, which is only 10
percent ethanol and 90 percent gasoline.
Ethanol is
not a new fuel. In the 1850s, it was a major lighting fuel.
During the Civil War, a liquor tax was placed on ethanol,
causing production to decline sharply until 1906. In 1908,
Henry Ford designed his Model T to run on a mixture of
gasoline and alcohol. He called it the fuel of the future.
In the 1970’s interest in ethanol as a transportation fuel
was revived. It was not until 1988 that ethanol began to be
added to gasoline for the purpose of reducing carbon
monoxide emissions.
A typical
40-million gallon ethanol plant creates 32 full-time jobs
and generates an additional $1.2 million in tax revenue for
a community.
“It’s not
only jobs,” said Sam Socca. “Right now, farmers rely on
cotton. They grow cotton on top of cotton and they are
taking the nutrients out of the land."
With
corn or milo, the land can be used again and again without
damaging the land. The plant will also be delivering grain,
ethanol and ethanol co-products by rail or truck.
“This will
increase the productivity of the local farmer,” says Socca.
“It also creates opportunity for trucking firms and railroad
transportation.”
There are
many benefits to the economy, according to Socca. It is a
true form of trickle down economics, he said. The plant
brings new jobs, more work for transportation, and more
opportunities for farmers.
“It’s a
good location,” says Socca, “We are the market creating new
markets, unlike others going into an already existing market
and competing.”
Ethanol
demand is currently being met, but there will most likely
continue to be a market for it, according to Socca.
“New
technologies are being looked at, and it will increase
efficiency and will increase value of byproducts, keeping
food prices low,” said Socca.
All photos by
Leah Harbin/Plainsman Press
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