Fuel Ethanol: Background and Public Policy Issues

Summary

This report provides background and discussion of policy issues relating to U.S.

ethanol production, especially ethanol made from corn. It discusses U.S. fuel ethanol

consumption both as a gasoline blending component and as an alternative to gasoline.

The report discusses various costs and benefits of ethanol, including fuel costs,

pollutant emissions, and energy consumption. It also outlines key areas of

congressional debate on policies beneficial to the ethanol industry.