Time to Grow Biofuel Use
by Zippy Duvall (American Farm Bureau Federation) As homegrown fuels, ethanol and biodiesel have helped reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower gas prices, increase demand for corn and soybeans and decrease our dependence on foreign energy sources. But the road to success has sometimes been a bumpy one, so we must keep paving the way to ensure a sustainable future with renewable fuels.
Ethanol and biodiesel use reduced greenhouse gas emissions to the equivalent of taking 17 million cars off the road for a year, according to the EPA. That success comes in part thanks to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), the law that requires ethanol and biodiesel be blended into fuels. Farmers have faced a long battle with “small refinery waivers” from the EPA—these waivers have received bipartisan criticism. Recently, the Biden administration upheld a court decision to limit these waivers, a positive sign that EPA will preserve the integrity of the RFS.
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As Americans hit the road again this spring and summer, the fundamental truth about biofuels is more important than ever: They are helping reduce our emissions and play an important role in agriculture’s sustainability story. As the Biden administration focuses on climate, farmers stand ready to provide the crops needed to produce more biofuels and help achieve clean energy goals, in addition to our climate-smart farming practices.
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This blending requirement saves us over $18 billion a year in fuel expenses – imagine the savings if we increase the use of higher percentage fuel blends.
Increasing the percentage of biofuels at the gas pump has not only been good for the economy, but it has also reduced our dependence on foreign energy sources. READ MORE
Fuel demand will remain almost flat over next 10 years (Houston Chronicle)
