As an element of our energy security policy, the United States should encourage the development of alternative energy sources for future U.S. energy needs. The present administration cites our dependence on oil as one of our critical national weaknesses. Our international standing and economic stability will improve if we can discover plentiful renewable energy sources that eventually reduce global demand for oil. Ethanol is one of several possibilities for achieving energy security, especially as it applies to transportation fuels. This project examines the viability of ethanol as an alternative fuel source. It will compare the current sources of ethanol, compare their economic and environmental viability, and assess these impacts on American energy security strategy. It then will determine whether there are significant benefits to energy security from ethanol production, and what adjustments in current policies can make ethanol and other energy sources viable alternatives to oil.