Speaking of energy …

Corn, globally, is as ever-present in our daily lives as petroleum. And no doubt, corn-based ethanol is ever-present in most of the gasoline we use in America. There’s a good chance that around 10 percent of what’s in your vehicle’s gas tank right this minute is made out of corn.

While that percentage is not expected to go down, the volume of the fuel sold is expected to mirror the decline in gasoline sales in the U.S. as vehicle efficiency improves and electric vehicles continue to gain market share of the American road. That’s according to Bloomberg News.

Ethanol is set to fall 12 percent by the end of this decade and almost 90 percent by 2050. U.S. Agriculture secretary Tom Vilsack calls it a “make-or-break” moment.

When 40 percent of the corn crop is used for fuel, what’s a corn farmer to do? Turn it into jet fuel? As crazy as it may sound, it’s highly possible that that’s where we’re headed.

And what an opportunity it is. It’s been projected that sustainable aviation fuel could soak up 17 percent of the country’s aviation fuel demand by 2050.

That would be a jump from 15.8 million gallons in 2022 to three-billion in 2030.

“It’s a lifeline,” said Patrick Gruber, CEO of Gevo Inc. “It creates an outlet for ethanol and it’s actually huge.” In fact, his renewable fuel-producing company is betting $850 million on it.

It’s not the only one.

Ag giant Archer-Daniels-Midland Co. is also pursuing investments in sustainable aviation fuels because, like many, the company sees a potential $105 billion industry by 2050.

Some farmers are skeptical about the fuel’s long-term prospects because of the need for government incentives to make it profitable. Like electric vehicles, which currently rely on tax incentives to gain market penetration, ethanol would not exist as a fuel without incentives, either. And today, it’s unclear whether producing corn-based jet fuel will be eligible for the incentives that it enjoys as a gasoline additive.

While some argue that liquid fuels will be necessary for the foreseeable future and reject the idea that the ethanol industry needs saving, it’s the unforeseen future that has the industry hedging its bets and heading in this direction.