The most widely used fuel additive, methyl-tertiary-butyl-ether, or MTBE, is likely on its way out because of environmental concerns, said Richard Tock, a chemical engineering professor at Texas Tech University.

If MTBE leaks from underground pipes or storage tanks, it can linger in the environment long enough to be toxic, Mr. Tock said.

Ethanol, on the other hand, evaporates quickly into fumes that are safe to breath.

"Ethanol will do everything MTBE does (for clean engine emissions)," Mr. Tock said. "The only difference is (ethanol) doesn't provide a revenue source for the oil companies, and it's a renewable source - and that looks good for the environment."

Ethanol, produced from starch crops such as corn and grain, can be more than an additive - it can be used as a fuel itself. Many cars and trucks on the road today can perform using 85 percent ethanol.

But ethanol is not without problems. In open air, ethanol absorbs water and evaporates quickly, making it difficult to transport long distances. It performs poorly in low temperatures whether it is used in gasohol - gasoline mixed with 10 percent ethanol - or E85 - gasoline with 85 percent ethanol.

New technology developed at Texas Tech alleviates those problems by adding a catalyst.

Enviro Max Plus is a zinc-based compound that can eliminate ethanol's problems of absorbing water and poor performance in low temperatures, said Kenneth Sanders, a Lubbock, Texas, businessman backing the research.

The public-private partnership has requested a grant from the National Institute of Science and Technology to study the product Mr. Sanders says could replace MTBE.

The businessman said Enviro Max Plus and its diesel counterpart, Enviro Max Diesel, are at the brink of diminishing the need for foreign oil.

Researchers at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee have been developing biofuels, such as ethanol, for more than 20 years.

"Anything we can do to reduce our dependence on petroleum or oil, we believe ought to be done," said Ed Grostick, deputy director for Oak Ridge's Transportation Technology Program.

As part of a 1992 federal mandate, Oak Ridge is gradually expanding its fleet of 560 vehicles to use biofuels; 41 vehicles at the lab operate on E85.

When older vehicles are traded in or new vehicles are purchased, the staff adds E85-compatible vehicles to the fleet.

A large part of selling the idea of ethanol to the public depends on teaching car dealers and consumers that cars, vans and pickups can perform well on E85, Mr. Grostick said.

"Soccer moms are driving them around and don't even know ethanol is an option for them," said Keith Kahl, a scientist in Oak Ridge's Fuels, Engines and Emissions Group.

Sunday: With stricter environmental laws and ongoing political unrest in the Middle East, many in rural America say the answer to the country's energy woes is ethanol, a fuel additive made from corn.

Tuesday: United Energy Distributors in Aiken is the nation's first "biofuel retailer," according to the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition.

Wednesday: The United States depends on foreign oil while many other countries, including Brazil, have vehicles burning 100 percent ethanol.

Thursday: Energy company Diamond Shamrock was talking about building an ethanol plant in rural Dumas, Texas, but things got quiet after the company was acquired by a major oil producer.

Friday: Researchers say they are improving ethanol to the point where the natural fuel performs as well as gasoline.

Saturday: An expected increase in ethanol demand has Midwestern states vying to be the market leader.