Most people who frequent gas stations to fill up their cars are familiar with ethanol content labels on the pumps but are generally unaware of the policies or implications surrounding them. Little do they know the costs being incurred: It is adding to their fuel tab, damaging (rather than helping) the environment, hurting refineries, creating food scarcities, and raising grocery prices.
The two-decade Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) should be reexamined for its efficacy. Another well-intentioned government program with unintended consequences, the RFS inflicts harm on consumers, ecosystems, land, air, and fuel refiners while simultaneously propping up farmers and the biofuel industry.
Established in 2005 and expanded in 2007, the RFS utilizes crops like corn and soy to be converted into biofuels and blended into the surface transportation fuel supply. The program set out to reduce our dependence on oil from foreign entities, expand the use of renewable fuels, and mitigate greenhouse gas (ghg) emissions.
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Kristen Walker is a policy analyst for the American Consumer Institute, a nonprofit education and research organization. For more information about the Institute, visit www.theamericanconsumer.org or follow us on X @ConsumerPal