Using E15 Can Cause Engine Failure
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The Price is Wrong: Who’s Picking up the Tab for the RFS?
American taxpayers, families and workers—come on down! In 2007, Congress made you an unwitting game show contestant when they expanded the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), a program that mandates large quantities of biofuel—made from corn and other biomass—be blended into the fuel supply. The twist in this game show? It's your money on the line, and only ethanol producers are winning.
The RFS mandate affects the prices of two of America’s (and the world’s) most vital commodities—food and fuel. In 2011, 40 percent of the nation’s corn crop was processed into biofuel, rather than food and livestock feed. The shrinking supply of corn for food has caused prices to spike nearly 18 percent, raising food costs for a family of four between $1,344 and $2,658 per year. In December, the National Council of Chain Restaurants released a study, which estimates that by 2015, when the RFS is fully phased-in, the mandate will increase total costs for chain restaurant owners by up to $3.2 billion per year. Anti-hunger groups have also taken note. In October 2012, ActionAid released a study outlining how RFS-related food price increases put developing countries at risk of famine.
Ethanol could also increase fuel costs. Experts have said that RFS mandates are likely to increase ethanol prices by 18.8 percent, raising the cost of gasoline, which is required to be blended with ethanol. In fact, fuel that is up to 85 percent ethanol is more expensive than pure gasoline, even with today’s petroleum prices and biodiesel costs more than $1.50 more per gallon to produce.
What’s more, ethanol producers received $20 billion in taxpayer subsidies between 2005 and 2011—$64 for every American.
And these are just a few of the ways Americans are forced to play a losing hand. Check out the infographic below to learn more about how RFS impacts your wallet, and browse this site to learn how RFS and U.S. biofuels policy affect the economy, food prices, engine performance and the environment.
If you agree that Americans deserve a Smarter Fuel Future, sign our pledge to demand change.
Food for Thought: Holiday Dinner Costs Soar
Thanksgiving is a time to gather with friends and family. For many, the holiday also evokes images of football, cornucopias, pilgrims and a table filled with traditional food, including pumpkin pie, cranberry sauce and roasted turkey with stuffing.
In fact, nearly 88 percent of American families are expected to eat turkey on Thanksgiving. But the economics of hosting Thanksgiving dinner for extended family can be challenging. This year, as food prices continue to rise, some might want to pass their wallets along with the peas and carrots.
According to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s survey, turkey dinner and all the fixings for 10 people will cost $49.48, or about 35 percent more than it did when the Renewable Fuel Standard was first passed in 2005.
This is a result of the worst drought in more than 50 years and an energy policy that diverts 40 percent of our corn crop away from food and animal feed in order to meet the current ethanol mandate. Prioritizing fuel over food has real impacts on global poverty rates, our national security and the prices we pay at the supermarket.
The below infographic details the widespread impact of the Renewable Fuel Standard on the food spectrum and Thanksgiving dinner in particular.
If you believe there is a smarter way forward, tell your family and friends about ethanol’s negative impact on your Thanksgiving dinner and sign up to receive updates from SmarterFuelFuture.org.
Biofuels & The Environment
Congress originally included biofuels mandates in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) to help reduce U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The biofuels industry has long promoted ethanol as a low-emission “future fuel,” but independent scientific research shows that ethanol fails to deliver on the promise of reduced emissions―and can actually harm our environment.
Check out our infographic below to learn how biofuels from all sources impact land and water use, and raise GHG emissions.
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How Much Corn Goes Into a Gallon and a Tank of Gas?
Infographic showing what the food energy value is of the corn used to produce ethanol. (Source: NPR)
Consumers Beware: Real Cost of E15
Infographic showing the consumer costs of E15, including higher prices at the pump, less "GO" per gallon and engine damage.
Ethanol Infographic
Infographic with data from economic study on the impact of corn ethanol production on food prices and commodity price volatility (Source: National Chicken Council)
Food or Fuel?
Infographic shows how many people could be fed with the amount of corn required to produce 21.6 gallons of ethanol. (Source: Resource Media)
E15 Warning
Image of a label warning to only use E15 in fuel flex vehicles, or vehicles made after 2001 (source: National Association of Convenience Stores)
