Renewable Biomass Can Help Reduce U.S. Petroleum Dependence: Farm Bill Energy Programs Are Key

The brief highlights the role of the 2008 Farm Bill in stimulating the U.S. biofuels industry and reducing oil dependence. It details specific programs like the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) and the Biorefinery Assistance Program, noting that while initial investments of less than $2 billion have shown promise, significant further investment is required to meet Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) targets for 2022. The author emphasizes that shifting to biofuels can improve energy security, support rural economic development, and mitigate climate change.

• The United States remains heavily dependent on petroleum, which provided 36 percent of total primary energy consumption in 2011, with 93 percent of transportation fuel being petroleum-based.
• Biofuels have the potential to significantly reduce oil demand, with estimates suggesting they could provide up to 30 percent of total U.S. transportation fuel by 2037.
• The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) aims for 36 billion gallons of biofuel production by 2022, including a target of 20 billion gallons of advanced biofuels; however, progress on advanced biofuels has been slowed by the economic recession and financing difficulties.
• The Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) has established 11 project areas across various states, but the USDA estimates that 27 million acres of marginal lands may be needed to meet RFS goals.
• To achieve the 2022 goal of 20 billion gallons of advanced biofuels, the U.S. would need to construct approximately 527 new biorefineries, with an estimated total cost of $168 billion.
• The 2008 Farm Bill utilized a public investment of less than $2 billion over five years to stimulate rural energy resources, including the development of bio-based alternatives to the 23 percent of oil used for industrial feedstocks.

APA

Environmental and Energy Study Institute (2012). Renewable Biomass Can Help Reduce U.S. Petroleum Dependence: Farm Bill Energy Programs Are Key. https://www.eesi.org/files/biomass_oil_issue_brief_071312.pdf

Chicago

Environmental and Energy Study Institute. Renewable Biomass Can Help Reduce U.S. Petroleum Dependence: Farm Bill Energy Programs Are Key. 2012. https://www.eesi.org/files/biomass_oil_issue_brief_071312.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |title=Renewable Biomass Can Help Reduce U.S. Petroleum Dependence: Farm Bill Energy Programs Are Key |date=July 2012 |url=https://www.eesi.org/files/biomass_oil_issue_brief_071312.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{environmentalandenergystudyinstitute2012renewable, author = {{Environmental and Energy Study Institute}}, title = {{Renewable Biomass Can Help Reduce U.S. Petroleum Dependence: Farm Bill Energy Programs Are Key}}, institution = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2012}, month = jul, url = {https://www.eesi.org/files/biomass_oil_issue_brief_071312.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }