We can sum up new polling on Americans’ perceptions of the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and its potential impact on their lives in a word: concerned. Make that very concerned – about potential damage to their vehicles, about the broad economic effects of breaching the ethanol “blend wall” and about diverting corn away from… Keep reading →
When Congress created the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) more than a decade ago, lawmakers hoped the federal fuels program would spur development of a domestic biofuels industry that would help reduce oil imports with millions and millions of gallons of home-grown ethanol – with a particular focus on increasing volumes of cellulosic biofuel made from… Keep reading →
If the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) were a candidate in this election year, its track record would invite landslide defeat. Editorial boards of major newspapers are now echoing what a diverse coalition of restaurant associations, grocers, producers of poultry, pork and beef, environmental non-profits and anti-hunger groups have been saying for years. Arguing that “there… Keep reading →
The EPA called on Monday for an increase in the amount of ethanol and other renewable fuels blended into the nation’s overall fuel supply next year. [The Washington Post] Volkswagen successfully lobbied to remove two key parts of Europe’s coming auto emissions tests, an internal email has shown. [The NY Times] Cristina Fernández de Kirchner’s,… Keep reading →
It’s been a tough week for corn ethanol producers and supporters of the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). First, a new University of Tennessee report finds that the RFS and its ethanol mandates fall short on a number of environmental fronts, and that without mandated ethanol use the corn ethanol industry couldn’t survive commercially. The… Keep reading →
NERA Economic Consulting has a new study warning of potentially dire economic impacts from continued implementation of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), as written into law by Congress. NERA set up its study that way for good reasons: Despite abundant evidence that RFS mandates for ever-increasing ethanol use in the nation’s fuel supply are detached… Keep reading →
Finalized federal requirements for ethanol use in 2014, 2015 and 2016 under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) are scheduled to come out later this year. As EPA completes work on them, the interests of American consumers should be put ahead of special ethanol interests. At the same time, policymakers should recognize that the RFS is… Keep reading →
The road trip is part of the classic American dream—setting off on the open road to destinations known or unknown. But we’re not in the 1950s anymore and neither are our vehicles. Drivers today want to save money on fuel so they have more to spend on activities. Fortunately, the Department of Energy (DOE) has… Keep reading →
With EPA last week proposing ethanol-use requirements for 2014, 2015 and 2016 under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), the ethanol industry no doubt will keep lobbying to foist increasing amounts of higher-ethanol blend fuels like E15 and E85 on the motoring public. This, despite studies that have shown E15 can harm engines and fuel systems… Keep reading →
Beating its self-imposed June deadline by one business day, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed “renewable volume obligations” (RVOs) for 2014-2016 under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program last Friday.
