From: Potential water requirements of increased ethanol fuel in the USA
Scenario | Year | Total ethanol, billion gallons | Non-irrigated acres for ethanol (million) | Irrigated acres for ethanol (million) | Total acres for ethanol (million) | % of additional acres on irrigated land |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Baseline | 2013 | 12.5 | 23.9 | 4.1 | 28.0 | – |
A—uniform expansion | 2025 | 24.3 | 38.7 | 6.6 | 45.4 | 14.4 |
B—50% expanded irrigation | 2025 | 24.3 | 30.9 | 14.4 | 45.4 | 59.2 |
C—Midwest expansion | 2025 | 24.3 | 37.0 | 8.5 | 45.5 | 25.1 |