Des Moines, Iowa (NAPSI) - Recently, the price of gasoline reached a six-year high. Fortunately, there’s a way to handle that cost. You can use less gas without reducing your driving. Making that possible is one of the more promising alternative energy sources, ethanol, which is blended with regular gas a little in most cars and a lot in flex-fuel vehicles.

Ethanol comes from corn, wood chips and grasses. Increasing America’s ethanol production could drive down demand for oil and help wean the country off the volatility and sudden price swings it can bring.

The Oil Issue

Oil is what’s known as a “global commodity,” meaning it costs the same no matter where it’s produced. So while the U.S. produces more oil than at any time in nearly three decades, oil prices still rise. That’s because so much oil comes from the Middle East. Producers there can artificially restrict supply and drive up prices.

An Answer

Ethanol producers, on the other hand, are based in the United States and increased ethanol use is reducing America’s dependence on foreign oil. In 2013, ethanol production displaced the amount of oil America imports from Iraq and Venezuela—462 million barrels of crude oil.

Expert Advice

“Ethanol saves Americans money at the pump and stretches the fuel supply. Now is not the time for the Environmental Protection Agency to be scaling back our nation’s renewable energy policy. Now is the time to be expanding the use of biofuels and striking a blow for American energy independence,” noted Bob Dinneen, president and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA).

The Benefits

Ethanol is currently blended in more than 96 percent of America’s fuel supply, saving consumers an average of $1.00 a gallon at the pump.

Ethanol production is also a major job creator. A typical U.S. ethanol plant supports nearly 3,000 jobs.

“The need for American energy independence has never been so important and the solution has never been so clear—renewable fuels,” Dinneen added.

Government Action

Nevertheless, some people are trying to get Congress to repeal the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), which requires refiners to blend increasing amounts of renewable fuels. However, many Americans are writing their legislators at www.house.gov and www.senate.gov, asking them to support the Renewable Fuel Standard.

Learn More

For further facts on ethanol, visit www.ethanolrfa.org.