Unless you have lived under a rock for the past few months, you have likely heard of E85, the new formulation of fuel for vehicles that is, to hear proponents put it: the wave of the future. For those unfamiliar with it, E85 is fuel that is upwards of 85% ethanol, mixed with 15% gasoline, a formulation that is both more sustainable, and in many cases cleaner for the environment. The fuel is available in 40 out of the 50 states, with locations in the remaining states expected in the near future.

But what exactly makes E85 that much different? For starters, the fuel is formulated using just 15% traditional petroleum or gasoline. The remaining 85% is ethanol, derived from one of many different sources. Currently in the US, the most common variety is derived from corn, a staple crop in the Midwest. There are also varieties using sugar cane which has just recently become commercially viable, and is generally imported from Brazil. In the near future, expect ethanol from other woody and plant material to be available.

The question remains: what sort of impact will this have on the d is it worth all the hype?

Before our economy can switch to E85 completely there are several challenges that it would have to face, including the most pertinent: production. While there is currently enough production available to meet demand, the movement so to speak, is just catching on. There are already plans to double the nations total refineries for E85 production over the next several years, and more are being planned currently.

However, as corn E85 is still the greatest source of this fuel, the problem remains: where exactly to get all the corn that is needed for this sort of production. While the 2007 crop for corn in the US is expected to be the largest ever, there is still not enough to meet any sort of sustained and increased demand for corn without dramatically raising prices for consumers for everything for cornbread to beef, which is often raised on corn-based feed. Another option, as mentioned above, is the ability to create usable ethanol from sugar cane, however current US import tariffs on sugar cane ethanol from Brazil are $.54 per gallon which raises the cost dramatically of the fuel. There are currently trade talks in the works however that may make sugar cane ethanol more economically feasible in the near future, which could allow E85 to be an even more viable alternative for motorists as the movement continues to catch on.

Another problem is that vehicles using E85 are not only more expensive up front and get lower overall fuel economy, but that is theoretically balanced by E85 being cheaper per gallon than regular gasoline. Recently quoted prices in many areas had E85 ranging from between $1.99 per gallon to just over $3.00 per gallon, with gasoline generally ranging from about $2.50 upwards to well over $3.00. At the current rate, it is likely not economically smart for many people to switch to E85, as on average the fuel produces around 72% of the overall fuel economy of regular unleaded gasoline, and therefore, unless the price drops significantly, it will cost users overall more to use E85.

There are some environmental benefits to using E85 though, mainly that they reduce greenhouse gas emissions by anywhere from 14-30% or more depending on the exact formulation that is used. In fact, it is expected that certain formulations of ethanol derived from wood-based materials will produce 102% less greenhouse gases than comparable gasoline fuels, this means that using this fuel will actually remove greenhouse gas emissions from the air. Of course, each gallon of E85 fuel also reduces life cycle fossil fuel consumption by more than 40%, and depending on the formulation could reduce it as much as 80%.

Another benefit for switching to E85 is the decreased dependence on foreign oil reserves. While the current government is expected to announce plans to open vast new areas for open water drilling, E85 use will have an even greater effect on America's current dependence on foreign oil stocks. With oil prices as volatile as they are, one can only hope that E85 continues to catch on as quickly as it is currently.

So, in the end, the question E85 worth it? The answer, at least according to everything presented here, is that yes, it is. It is better for the environment, in general costs less and reduces American dependence on foreign oil. As with all new technologies, the initial investment is greater upfront, but that can be expected to drop as the technology becomes more commonplace throughout the country over the next several years.

Jeff Schade is the founder of DementedFrog.com, a news and information source related to the environment and the green movement that is gaining traction in the US and globally. Features news, community forums to encourage readers to take part in the quest for a cleaner environment.