By Blake Jackson
The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) celebrates its 20th anniversary today, marking two decades of significant contributions to America’s energy and agricultural sectors. The law was created to promote biofuels, especially ethanol, as a sustainable alternative to traditional gasoline.
Wisconsin and Iowa corn growers, along with national advocates, led the charge for the law in the 1990s and early 2000s, pushing for a national biofuels policy. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 was passed after years of advocacy and negotiations, which led to the creation of the RFS.
The RFS has been a game-changer. It helped increase the demand for corn for ethanol by 244%, according to the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA). It also provided a boost to the nation’s economy, supporting over 300,000 jobs in the biofuels industry, which contributes $50 billion annually to the GDP. Additionally, the law made fuel more affordable, with estimates showing savings of 10-30 cents per gallon at the pump.
The RFS has also bolstered America’s fueling infrastructure, allowing for the production of 18 billion gallons of ethanol annually. This ethanol can fuel 300 million cars each year. Over time, the law expanded, eliminating the 10% ethanol blend cap and promoting access to higher ethanol blends like E15, although challenges remain in securing year-round access.
Photo Credit: ethanol-shutterstock-dickgage
Categories: Kentucky, Crops, Corn