The U.S. is in the midst of a frightful energy crisis. 

The national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $2.89... which is 77 cents higher than this time last year.

In September of 2003, the price of standard crude oil was less than $25 per barrel. By April 21 of this year, it reached a record of $75.35 per barrel.

And given the mounting tensions between the U.S. and Iran… the dawn of another potentially busy hurricane season… and the increase in world demand… there’s no indication that this strain will be eased any time in the near future.

Strap on your seatbelt... an alternative energy source is set to take the world by storm. In this research report, we'll take a close look at the booming ethanol industry... and how investing in ethanol could prove to be an extremely profitable move for investors. 

Ethanol... the Advantages

Ethanol, or ethyl alcohol as it is also known, has recently been flooding onto the market.  Derived from starch crops, such as corn and sugar, ethanol offers advantages to our current gasoline.

And people in power are taking note.

President Bush announced that alternative fuels are a solution to America’s insatiable “addiction” to oil.  He declared, “Ethanol will replace gasoline consumption.  The ethanol industry is on the move, and America is better off for it.” 

In fact, Bush not only made this statement, he backed it up… with his signature on the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005.  This measure requires that the production and use of renewable fuels be increased from presently 4 billion gallons to 7.5 billion gallons in 2012.

Then, just last month, the U.S. government ordered that the current gasoline additive, MTBE, be replaced by a renewable, safer, more eco-friendly additive.  What additive is that? 

You guessed it… ethanol. 

In addition to its imminent application as an additive, many government officials as well as the U.S. auto manufacturers believe that ethanol holds promise as a total substitute for gasoline.  As a matter of fact, the car manufacturers seem to be betting on it.  By the end of this year, GM, Ford and DaimlerChrysler AG will have 6 million flex-fuel vehicles on the road.  These vehicles are capable of running on gasoline or E85 – an 85% ethanol, 15% gasoline fuel.

Without a doubt, these factors will have a huge impact on the market.  The Wall Street Journal predicts that U.S. ethanol demand will likely increase by at least 50% this year alone.  There are currently 97 American ethanol refineries, with nine of those expanding and an additional 35 plants under construction.  The total number of refineries is expected to double within the next couple of years, clearly indicating a market on the move.

With a mandate from the U.S. government and the obvious need for change, we see this as a fantastic opportunity for investors to earn serious profits.

Who's Investing in Ethanol These Days?

Take a look at recent investments made by some of the richest and most successful people in the world:

• Bill Gates, the richest man in America, allocated $84 million into Pacific Ethanol, Inc. (Nasdaq: PEIX), a company poised to control a considerable share of the ethanol industry. 
• Sir Richard Branson, chairman of the Virgin Group and worth an estimated $3 billion, has plans to invest $300 to $400 million to produce and market this promising alternative fuel. He says, "This is the win-win fuel of the future."
• Vinod Khosla, “guru” of Silicon Valley, co-founder of Sun Microsystems, and one of ethanol’s most vocal advocates, has invested millions of his own dollars in private companies involved in the development of ethanol.

What’s more, industry titans are recognizing the value of providing the American public with an alternative.

• Wal-Mart announced that it is considering offering corn-based ethanol at its 383 gas stations throughout the U.S.
• Not to be left behind, several Big Oil companies, including Shell and Exxon Mobil, are funding ethanol research.

A booming industry, to be sure. Now let’s take a look at why ethanol will only get bigger from here…

Four Factors Driving Ethanol Higher Now

• FREEDOM FROM FOREIGN OIL: Ethanol could free America from its reluctant dependence on foreign oil.  This is not a pipedream, conjured up by some pro-U.S. idealists.  Not at all. Brazil has turned that vision into reality, where 70% of the vehicles in that country are sustained on ethanol.  Brazil's ethanol plan has successfully replaced imported oil worth an estimated $120 billion. To put it into perspective, this would translate to a savings of about $2 trillion for an economy equivalent in size to the U.S.
• INCREASED INCOME TO U.S. FARMERS: In terms of economics, there is no clearer choice for the American public. It would mean higher farm incomes and we would see a steep increase in rural employment.
• THE TECHNOLOGY’S IN PLACE NOW: The technology to run cars on ethanol already exists.  General Motors alone has built more than 1.5 million ethanol-compliant vehicles.
• IT’S RIDING THE “GREEN WAVE”: And let’s not ignore the fact that ethanol is believed to be much more environmentally friendly than our current petroleum.  Many experts agree that a switch from gasoline to ethanol could significantly reduce our carbon dioxide emissions, some say by as much as 80%. 

400%-Plus Gains by Investing in the Ethanol Boom

The market already reflects growing momentum behind ethanol investing.  Take a look:

• Since March of this year, three companies involved in ethanol production have filed for IPO’s with the Securities and Exchange Commission - VeraSun Energy Corp., Hawkeye Holdings Inc. and Aventine Renewable Energy Holdings Inc.
• Pacific Ethanol, Inc, is currently trading at mind-boggling levels.  Since Bill Gates made his investment, shares jumped from about $10 to a high of $44.50.  It now seems to have leveled off around $25/share.
• Archer-Daniels-Midland Co., the largest ethanol producer in the U.S., has seen its stock double in one year.

Fueling an Alternative Revolution

Only time will tell if ethanol will fulfill its expectation as the replacement fuel of the future.  As an industry still in its relative infancy, there are obstacles to be overcome.  However, with the widespread backing it has received and the initiatives that are already in place, the ethanol industry is revved up for enormous growth and one that presents to you, as an investor, new and exciting opportunities for an immediate investment.

We'll be bringing Investment U readers more information and news on the ethanol boom in the coming months. Until then...

Good investing!

© 2006 Angela McKee
Contributor/Researcher, Investment U
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