WHAT IS THE RFS?
Congress created the renewable fuel standard (RFS) program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and expand the nation’s renewable fuels sector while reducing reliance on imported oil. This program was authorized under the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and expanded under the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency implements the program in consultation with U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Energy. The RFS program requires a certain volume of renewable fuel to replace or reduce the quantity of petroleum-based transportation fuel, heating oil or jet fuel.

 

BENEFITS OF THE RFS

 

Create jobs and grow the economy

 

 

Thanks to the RFS, ethanol is now blended into 97 percent of our fuel supply, and production of homegrown biofuels supports economic growth across the heartland. In fact, America is a global leader in ethanol production, an industry that supports nearly 360,000 U.S. jobs and added nearly $44.4 billion to the nation’s gross domestic product.

 

Protect the environment

 

 

Ethanol is an earth-friendly biofuel that reduces greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 43 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and this percentage continues to increase with ongoing innovations in technology. Ethanol also protects our health by displacing toxic chemicals in gasoline associated with groundwater contamination, smog, asthma, and cancer.

 

Increase America’s energy security

 

 

By providing an affordable alternative for foreign oil, ethanol helps to hold down prices and shields U.S. drivers against efforts by hostile nations to manipulate global energy prices. In fact, ethanol now meets more than 10 percent of our motor fuel needs and has helped America cut our dependence on oil imports in half since 2005, when the RFS was first enacted.

 

Expand fuel options for U.S. drivers

 

 

The RFS creates competition at the pump, ensuring that consumers have cleaner, more affordable options when fueling up. As a result, U.S. drivers save money on fuel – as much as $1.50 per gallon during the last spike in global oil prices. Consumers also appreciate that higher biofuel blends can deliver more octane for better performance and help to reduce toxic emissions in the air.

 

Drive investments in research and development

 

 

The RFS also stimulates investment in second-generation biofuels that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 100 percent or more over gasoline. This technology creates value from the waste portion of crops left in the field, while displacing even more carcinogens in gasoline.

 

Courtesy of Growth Energy