New reporting highlights the growing environmental toll of America’s corn-based ethanol system, from rising greenhouse gas emissions to widespread water contamination. As research continues to challenge ethanol’s climate benefits, experts warn it’s time to reconsider the policies driving intensive corn production.

A Nebraska town is still reckoning with the aftermath of an ethanol plant that processed pesticide-coated seeds, leaving behind contaminated waste and widespread health concerns. New research reveals elevated pesticide exposure among residents, raising troubling questions about oversight and the environmental risks associated with ethanol production.

The White House is weighing a new rule that could reshape U.S. biofuel policy — and the stakes are high for both farmers and refiners. The proposal will determine whether billions of gallons of ethanol and biodiesel demand are preserved or shifted, with major implications for agriculture, energy, and climate policy.

Corn grown for ethanol in the U.S. uses nearly 30 million acres of farmland—about the size of New York State—yet solar could match its energy output using just 3.2% of that land. This striking comparison raises big questions about how we use our agricultural resources.

Let’s overlook the devastating impact that biofuel production has on our surface and ground water. Let’s forget about the loss of tens of millions of acres of natural habitat and its calamitous impact on local and migrating biodiversity.

Biofuels are included in many proposed strategies to reduce anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and limit the magnitude of global warming. The US Renewable Fuel Standard is the world’s largest.

Corn-based ethanol, which for years has been mixed in huge quantities into gasoline sold at U.S. pumps, is likely a much bigger contributor….. read more

Ethanol prices have skyrocketed to their highest level in a decade, contributing to surging U.S. gasoline prices as oil refiners pay more for the biofuel they are required to blend with their products….. read more

Energy is a fascinating subject. To fully appreciate the many factors that play into this important topic, one must be well versed in biology, economics, business, geography, geology, physics, chemistry, power generation dynamics and most importantly politics…. read more

Dust storms have re-emerged across much of Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado and Texas, fueled by the same combination of persistent drought, plowing up fragile… read more

Gasoline prices hit a six-year high this week amid the Colonial Pipeline shutdown and a rebound in demand as more people hit the road. But one overlooked cause of higher prices at the pump is Congress’s ethanol mandate…. read more

It has been over a century since so many people have been informed about the spread of a contagious disease. Concepts such as herd immunity, social distancing and how airborne pathogens… read more

The idea of requiring the nation’s gasoline supply to contain a certain amount of renewable biofuel was born in a short-lived doomsday fad of the 1970s. With experts warning… read more

Neither increases in government subsidies to corn-based ethanol fuel nor hikes in the price of petroleum can overcome what one Cornell University agricultural scientist calls a… read more

The ethanol lobby is like that greedy child on Halloween who is supposed to take one piece of candy at the door, but grabs a handful and runs away. Already guaranteed a share of the energy market through the… read more

New concessions to the ethanol industry unveiled today by the Trump Administration vividly highlight how irreparably broken the Renewable Fuel Standard is — and how it is fueling disasters for America’s waterways, wildlife habitat, and climate…. read more

U.S. ethanol plants are expected to sharply curtail production in the weeks ahead as steep Midwest corn prices and the U.S.-China trade war have led to weak margins and oversupply, industry sources said. Margins to produce ethanol in the Corn Belt – where most U.S. production takes place – have fallen… read more

Environmentalists are taking their case that corn-based ethanol is bad for the planet to the state that makes more of it than any other: Iowa. They are bird-dogging presidential candidates such as Elizabeth Warren and Cory Booker at rallies and town halls… read more

In recent weeks, President Trump returned to Iowa to court U.S. farmers ahead of the official launch of his reelection campaign and to sign his much-anticipated rulemaking allowing year-round sales of E15, an unlawful action… read more

Ethanol plant operators are fixated on the federal mandate and rules because without significant federal assistance, ethanol makes no economic sense. Numerous studies as well as common sense conclude… read more

Under the surface of Lake Erie lies a vast and complex ecosystem of plants and animals. In a recent study, University of Michigan scientists dove into the biology of the lake’s algae population to better understand… read more

Many environmentalists who once supported the U.S. ethanol policy are now regretting their decision as data shows the corn-based fuel is wiping out the country’s monarch butterfly population… read more

FOR MORE THAN a decade, the United States has pursued the foolhardy energy policy known as the Renewable Fuel Standard, or RFS. Thanks to legislation passed by a Democratic Congress… read more

U.S. oil and natural gas producers are shattering records — recently overtaking Saudi Arabia and Russia to lead the world in crude oil production. Fueled by advanced technology, the American energy resurgence… read more

As national and international environmental, conservation, and development organizations, we respectfully submit these joint comments on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed rule “Renewable Fuel Standard Program: Standards for 2019 and Biomass-Based Diesel Volume for 2020” published… read more

The National Wildlife Federation today hosted a briefing on a recently released Environmental Protection Agency report detailing the serious environmental impacts stemming from the Renewable Fuel Standard… read more

A major report from the U.S. EPA confirms that the nation’s biofuels mandate has contributed to negative environmental impacts, including loss of wildlife habitat, increased water pollution… read more

The rationale to pass the Renewable Fuel Standard included a smorgasbord of admirable objectives, none of which have materialized. These goals included an inexpensive way to increase the octane ratings of gasoline… read more

Jerry Jung’s passion for reforming the nation’s ethanol laws started when he noticed that the monarch butterflies had vanished from his hobby farm north of… read more

Jerry Jung’s passion for reforming the nation’s ethanol laws started when he noticed that the monarch butterflies had vanished from his hobby farm north of Clare, Michigan. After doing a bit of research… read more

The political tide may be turning against the corn ethanol mandate. The Renewable Fuel Standard, which forces oil refiners to mix corn-based fuel into gasoline, is one of history’s great policy boondoggles… read more

Bill invests more than $11 billion to reverse impacts of mandate, puts forth solutions to protect drinking water, restore wildlife habitat, and confront climate change… read more

At first glance, the Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery might look like a target for environmental groups. It’s been hit with $2.1 million in penalties from U.S. EPA for Clean Air Act violations… read more

The head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said on Thursday that the recent bankruptcy of a Pennsylvania oil refiner was evidence the nation’s biofuel policy needs an overhaul in comments… read more

For the first time in years, there is an emerging consensus that the biggest racket in national politics deserves to end. Earlier this month, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and 10 other Republican senators held… read more

This is a story of unintended consequences. Ten years ago President George W. Bush signed into law the Renewable Fuel Standard, a federal program created to advance a number of national priorities… read more

Ten years ago today, President George W. Bush signed into law the ethanol mandate called the Renewable Fuel Standard. Intended to reduce reliance on foreign oil and the emission… read more

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt took a trip to Iowa last week to meet with ethanol producers. But the day before he headed to the Hawkeye State… read more

As Donald Trump finishes the first year of his Presidency, turmoil around the Renewable Fuel Standard continues to be problematic… read more

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, confirmed this week that he will hold up the nomination of Bill Northey to a federal agriculture post until he gets a meeting… read more

“Ethanol is here to stay,” newly confirmed Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced last weekend, “and we’re going to work for new technologies to be more efficient.” read more

To meet mandates set out by a 2007 law, American refineries are blending in progressively larger amounts of ethanol distilled from food crops, specifically corn… read more

The road to hell, they say, is paved with good intentions. The road to a slowly unfolding environmental disaster was similarly paved, it seems… read more

Corn is grown not only for food, it is also an important renewable energy source. Renewable biofuels can come with hidden economic and environmental issues, and the question of whether corn is better utilized as food… read more

Members of the Conservative Political Action Conference panel “Energy Rationing: The Tragic, Unintended Consequences,” argued the federal ethanol mandate isn’t benefiting the regions… read more

Recent polls show that many rural residents do not support ethanol mandates. Here’s another reason why. read more

Manufacturers of lawn mowers, snowblowers, chainsaws, and other small-engine equipment continue fueling a debate over the supposed dangers … read more

A new report shows the Renewable Fuel Standard has had some unintended consequences – leading to the loss of 7 million acres of grassland nationally within the past few years – mostly in and around ethanol refineries… read more

While several familiar policy groups and elected officials are gearing up for the 2017 algae watch with spring runoff season’s arrival, an urban advocacy group’s spokesman wants to underscore how Lake Erie’s condition… read more

Wisconsin is among the top ten states for ethanol production, with nine plants pumping out more than 500 million gallons of ethanol each year. But a new study shows a strong tie between ethanol production and the destruction of wildlife habitat… read more

The earth is in the process of losing half of it’s species in a hundred years. This loss of biodiversity has been characterized as the 6th extinction.  Ethanol mandates contribute to this tragedy. read more

A new report from the National Wildlife Federation details how millions acres of native prairie and other important wildlife habitat throughout the United States have been plowed under to make way for more corn… read more

Rethink Ethanol’s founder wrote the following article for the local chapter of the Audubon Society.  Birds aren’t the only migratory animals that ethanol mandates jeopardize. read more

Today a coalition of fishing boat captains, Lake Erie businesses, environmental and conservation advocates, and sportsmen groups are threatening to sue the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency because of the agency’s failure to abide…. read more

Federal ethanol mandates are extremely expensive and won’t meet their goals, according to a new report published Monday by the Government Accountability Office (GAO)… read more

The EPA has failed to determine whether the Renewable Fuel Standard, a so-called environmental policy that’s costing American taxpayers $1 billion to $2 billion a year, has a net benefit on the environment or public health. That’s the finding of a searing report… read more

WASHINGTON – The National Council of Chain Restaurants today issued the following statement from Executive Director Rob Green following the Environmental Protection Agency’s release of 2017 volume requirements… read more

The current federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) has failed over the past 10 years to deliver on its stated objectives, relying far too heavily on high environmental-impact corn ethanol as a mandated fuel source. That’s the key finding of a new study prepared by University of Tennessee professor Dr. Daniel De La Torre Ugarte. The report is released in advance of EPA’s recently announced plan to increase corn ethanol mandates for 2017. read more

Is the end in sight for ethanol? We hope so. The consensus is clear; ethanol is not the green fuel it’s billed as, and the Environmental Protection Agency’s Renewable Fuel Standard is bad for the economy and worse for… read more

The decade-old boondoggle that was aided and abetted from the get-go by big environmental groups has been exposed as being worse for climate change than conventional gasoline. A new study by… read more

With so many conflicting studies, many of them funded for by interested parties, it is necessary to rely on one’s own common sense when it comes to evaluating ethanol…. read more

In August of 1804, the Lewis and Clark expedition entered the eastern border of the Great Plains. Captain Lewis and Second Lieutenant Clark were some of the first white men to cast their eyes on a vast expanse of land that has come to define… read more