First Things First: Capping Corn-Based Biofuel Production

The policy brief contends that the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) has failed to deliver its promised benefits, instead increasing greenhouse gas emissions, food prices, and habitat destruction through the scale-up of corn ethanol. It criticizes the EPA for allowing 'advanced biofuels' like sugarcane ethanol and soy biodiesel to fill shortfalls in cellulosic biofuel production, which the authors claim drives indirect demand for more corn ethanol or palm oil. The document advocates for legislative or regulatory actions to prevent new increases in corn used for biofuels, specifically opposing the classification of corn-starch butanol as an advanced biofuel.

• The scale-up of corn ethanol under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) has led to increased greenhouse gas emissions, air and water pollution, habitat destruction, and higher food prices globally and in the United States.
• The EPA has allegedly ignored evidence, including its own analysis, showing that corn ethanol does not meet the minimum emissions reduction requirements mandated by Congress in 2007.
• Allowing 'advanced biofuels' such as Brazilian sugarcane ethanol or soy biodiesel to fill the cellulosic biofuel shortfall may increase GHG emissions by driving up the production of palm oil or increasing Brazilian imports of US corn ethanol.
• Classifying butanol made from corn starch as an 'advanced biofuel' could increase the amount of corn used for fuel, exacerbating competition with food markets and triggering land use change-related carbon dioxide emissions.

APA

Cohen, A., & Lewis, J. (2013). First Things First: Capping Corn-Based Biofuel Production. Clean Air Task Force. https://www.catf.us/2013/08/first-things-first-capping-corn-based-biofuel-production/

Chicago

Cohen, Armond, and Jonathan Lewis. First Things First: Capping Corn-Based Biofuel Production. Clean Air Task Force, 2013. https://www.catf.us/2013/08/first-things-first-capping-corn-based-biofuel-production/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Cohen |first1=Armond |last2=Lewis |first2=Jonathan |title=First Things First: Capping Corn-Based Biofuel Production |publisher=Clean Air Task Force |date=5 August 2013 |url=https://www.catf.us/2013/08/first-things-first-capping-corn-based-biofuel-production/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{cohen2013first, author = {Cohen, Armond and Lewis, Jonathan}, title = {{First Things First: Capping Corn-Based Biofuel Production}}, institution = {Clean Air Task Force}, year = {2013}, month = aug, url = {https://www.catf.us/2013/08/first-things-first-capping-corn-based-biofuel-production/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }