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Environment

Ten Percent Is Positive Progress

May 5, 2008 | A version of this story appeared in Volume 86, Issue 18

Gerald Roye dismisses the role ethanol can play in reducing U.S. dependence on foreign oil and production of carbon dioxide (C&EN, March 17, page 6). He argues that ethanol can displace only 10% of the country's need for gasoline. This is a frequently cited criticism; unfortunately, it is misplaced.

Any progress we make toward the goal of reducing gasoline consumption is positive progress. No one would denigrate achieving the same 10% reduction through conservation or improved fuel economy. Perhaps ethanol will not be the panacea we had all hoped it would be, but it is the most feasible of the short-term steps we can take.

Robert G. Butler
Passaic, N.J.

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