This article entitled, “Score One for Corn: In Battle Over Biofuel, a Rare Setback for Big Oil” by Hiroko Tabuchi speaks about our current regulations on fuel. Our fuel is partially derived from corn and soy due to an old federal mandate. The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program created under the Energy Policy Act of 2005, requires refiners or importers of gasoline or diesel fuel to blend renewable fuel into transportation fuel (“Overview”). Last month, the Trump administration decided to stick closely to the current guidelines in place, so refineries must blend about 20 billion gallons of biofuel into the nation’s gas supply (Tabuchi). This decision supports farmers since much of the biofuel is ethanol made from corn, but is a setback for the oil industry (Tabuchi). Though it may be helpful for our national agriculture, many environmental and health groups oppose the mandate, arguing that ethanol is no better than gasoline and isn’t truly helping environmentally (Tabuchi). The RFS program was enacted to reduce the country’s oil dependence, help out struggling corn and soy farmers in the area, while also control the rising greenhouse gas emissions (Tabuchi).

This article is significant because it provides another source of energy that could potentially be useful and sustainable. However, if biofuels actually do what they were intended to do is highly debated. Recent research shows that the predicted environmental benefits of biofules are difficult to achieve, in part because a group of more advanced biofuels has not grown as hoped. The corn and soy farming industry has grown, but arguably too much. According to the Department of Agriculture, 40% of domestic corn and 30% of domestic soy go towards making ethanol, and biofuels make up about 10% of the gasoline used in the nation (Tabuchi). However, this massive growth has pushed cultivation into neighboring, previously untouched lands, which hurts biodiversity and lowers the land’s ability to store carbon. Scientists also warn that bioenergy can also increase competition for land because food crops are taking over livestock grazing areas (Tabuchi). In addition, the underlying issue of helping greenhouse gases is also under scrutiny. A study published last year by the University of Michigan Energy Institute concluded that biofuels had increased, rather than decreased, the nation’s carbon dioxide emissions and these results are still being debated. These appear to be the first steps in moving towards a clean energy source, however there is much more research and work to be done in order to achieve a lasting solution that is effective.

https://www.epa.gov/renewable-fuel-standard-program/overview-renewable-fuel-standard