FACTCHECK – BRAZIL, ETHANOL & OIL

"Brazil got off oil in the last 30 years."; Bill Maher and George Will spar over oil and Brazil. We play the ref.
May 3, 2010 (Politifact)

"A potential ecological disaster in the Gulf of Mexico led to a spirited debate on U.S. energy policy on ABC News' This Week.

"Liberal commentator Bill Maher lamented the fact that both major political parties, including President Barack Obama, have supported offshore oil drilling…instead of being more aggressive about renewable energy…[and asserted that] ‘…Brazil got off oil in the last 30 years; we certainly could have…’"

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"Conservative columnist George Will challenged Maher about Brazil. ‘Could you just explain to me in what sense has Brazil got off oil?’

"…[W]e dug into the research on Brazil and energy…Brazil does produce a lot of sugarcane ethanol, as Maher said…[It] is one of the largest producers of ethanol in the world…[and] more than half of all cars in Brazil are flexible-fuel capable, which means they can run on 100 percent ethanol or an ethanol-gasoline mixture…But even though Brazil aggressively uses biofuels, and invests quite a bit in hydroelectric power, it still produces and consumes a lot of oil…"

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"In 2008, Brazil ranked No. 7 on the list of the world's countries that consume the most oil, using about 2.5 million barrels per day. In first place was the United States at 19.5 million barrels per day, followed by China, Japan, India, Russia, and Germany…Brazil also produces a lot of oil through drilling near its coasts…[and is predicted to] become a net exporter of oil this year…

"Getting back to our factcheck, Maher was likely remembering Brazil's aggresive efforts to promote ethanol, and certainly Brazil has outpaced the United States in getting flexible fuel vehicles on the road. But…Brazil still consumes a great deal of oil. It's also embarking on more offshore drilling in some of the deepest waters for exploration. Brazil is hardly ‘off oil.’ So we rate Maher's statement False."