The rapid acceleration in new ethanol plants over the last couple of years has resulted in current production capability reaching levels approaching the 2012 targets of the government mandates. Those mandates were for 7.5 billion gallons. Current production is estimated well over 5 billion gallons. Refineries currently under construction and/or expansion will add another 6 billion gallons of capacity if they are completed and come on line as planned.
By the end of 2006 we had achieved about 1.5% oil energy independence because of ethanol substitution according to the USDA. By 2017, if the massive growth they have forecasted actually arrives, we will be up to 3.7% oil energy independent compared to current purchases. This doesn't take into account the foreign oil used to produce ethanol in all of the various ways it works into the production process for corn etc. but if accounted, it would reduce these percentages by about one third.
