The biofuels industry is strengthening national defense, powering vehicles across the country and keeping hundreds of thousands of Americans employed (directly and indirectly). The Renewable Fuel Standard continues to lower fuel prices at the pump and supports a growing domestic energy industry without having a significant effect on food prices.

• Cellulosic biofuels use non-food source materials to develop biofuels, debunking the myth that biofuels is a “food.vs fuel” debate. Biomass resources totaling just under 680 million dry tons could be made available, in a sustainable manner, each year within the United States by 2030. That’s enough biomass to produce more than 54 billion gallons of ethanol – four times as much corn ethanol as the United States produced in 2010. (Source: Union of Concerned Scientists, http://bit.ly/12wPnrl)

• The impact of corn on food prices is overblown. According to US Department of Agriculture (USDA), “Historically, if the farm price of corn increases 50%, then retail food prices as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increases by 0.5 to 1%.” (Source: USDA, http://1.usa.gov/YoFPYA)

• Ethanol lowered gasoline price for drivers by an average of $1.09 in 2011, according to Iowa State University’s Center for Agricultural and Rural Development. (Source: Iowa State University, http://bit.ly/JJyJJl)

• Ethanol credits, known as RINs, fluctuate in cost but do not cause a significant rise in consumer gas prices. For example, a $1.15 RIN (approximate price as of March, 2013) at a 10% ethanol blend increases gasoline costs by $0.0073 – less than a cent per gallon. The market demonstrated this in early 2013, when gas prices spiked 49 cents from January to February, something the cost of RINs could never account for. (Source: Biofuels Digest, http://bit.ly/10cvXWa) 

• Conservative estimates find that 27 biorefineries across the U.S. will be coming online by 2015. On the low-end, these facilities could create about 1,518 direct; 6,965 construction; and 9,924 indirect jobs. On the high-end, these numbers increase to 3,939 direct; 18,076 construction; and 25,755 indirect jobs potentially created. (Source: Environmental Entrepreneurs, http://bit.ly/OfS239)

• The ethanol industry supported over 401,600 American jobs in 2011. (Source: Renewable Fuels Association, http://bit.ly/xA7FWy)

• A new study finds that, “about 685 million gallons of advanced biofuels capacity will exist in 2012, [up from 437 million gallons in 2011], which will increase to at least 1.6 billion gallons by 2015. On the high end, this number could reach 2.6 billion gallons.” (Source: Environmental Entrepreneurs, http://bit.ly/OfS239)

• There is approximately a billion tons of biomass available to produce cellulosic ethanol. Potential feedstocks include things like wood waste, prairie grass, corncobs and leaves, and more. Every state in the country has potential to produce biofuels from cellulosic sources. (Source: DOE, http://1.usa.gov/qy0pzO)

• Department of Defense (DoD) biofuels production provides direct economic impact to the U.S. economy. A recent study found that meeting DoD’s biofuel targets will directly generate between $9.6 and $19.8 billion of economic activity by 2020. Of that, roughly $6 billion will be attributable to construction, and an additional $1.6 billion to $4.9 billion will be attributable to feedstock production. (Source: High Road Strategies, http://bit.ly/T3cUKp)

• Department of Defense biofuels production will create between 14,000 – 17,000 new jobs by 2020. If measured on a job-year basis, the total number of jobs created would be more than twice that amount. (Source: High Road Strategies, http://bit.ly/T3cUKp)

• The Renewable Fuels Standard, driving biofuels development in the U.S., is achieving impressive results. Amended to include biofuels just 5 years ago, the RFS has spurred construction of cellulosic biofuels facilities in over 20 states, representing billions of dollars in private investment. Enzyme costs are down 80% over the past 10 years and cellulosic biofuels are being produced for $2.00/gal. or less today. (Source: Advanced Ethanol Council, http://bit.ly/TwqpSc)

• The E15 blend level has been tested extensively in a many different types of vehicles and equipment. Based off years of testing, the EPA approved the use of E15 in 2001 and newer model year cars, light duty vehicles, and all model years of FFVs. Considering 2001 and newer vehicles make up 70% of America’s vehicle fleet, E15 can be used for most American vehicles. (Renewable Fuels Association, http://bit.ly/Xr5eQL, http://bit.ly/XXZ3D)

• According to extensive research conducted by the EPA, E15(15% ethanol) blends of fuel would likely lower evaporative emissions compared to transportation fuel sold in most of the United States today. (Environmental Protection Agency, http://1.usa.gov/14VAtdO)

• Life-cycle analysis at Argonne National Laboratory shows CO2 emissions from cellulosic ethanol to be 85% lower than those from gasoline. Some feedstocks, such as crop residue, are estimated at more than 100% cleaner than traditional gasoline. (Source: Argonne National Laboratory, http://1.usa.gov/QmQuiM)

• Data released by the Renewable Fuels Association in February 2013, found that the biofuels industry contributes approximately $30 billion in household income for American workers. (Source: Cardno ENTRIX, http://bit.ly/XoLA9E)