Oil Addiction:

• Fossil fuels – coal, oil, and natural gas – currently account for about 85% of the United States’ total energy supply and almost all of the country’s transportation fuels.

• Oil accounts for more than 99% of this transportation fuel, 65% of which is imported today.

• The Energy Information Administration (EIA) projects that, by 2025, the U.S. will import 71% of its petroleum needs.

• Many of the countries throughout the Americas, with the notable exclusions of Brazil and Venezuela, also depend on foreign sources of oil for their fuel supply.

Unstable Sources and Energy Security:

• Two-thirds of the world's known oil reserves are located in the Middle East, an unstable region.

• By creating a viable regional ethanol market place, the Americas will no longer have to be dependent on oil imports from this volatile region and will thus not be as vulnerable to supply disruptions.

• Brazil has demonstrated how ethanol production can reduce dependence on foreign oil.

Florida

• Expanded ethanol production is vital to Florida’s population growth, economic expansion and security.

• Florida annually produces less than one percent of crude oil production and depends almost exclusively on other states and countries for supplies of oil.

• Catastrophic hurricane seasons in 2004 and 2005 have underscored Florida’s vulnerability to disruptions in energy supply and the resulting impacts to Florida’s economy, environment, and quality of life.