U.S. EPA Increases Crop-based Biofuels Mandate in Renewable Fuel Standard, Hampering Climate Action

The World Resources Institute (WRI) and Earthjustice oppose the U.S. EPA's finalized Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for 2023-2025, which increases the required volume of biofuels in transportation fuel. WRI argues that crop-based biofuels, such as corn ethanol and soy biodiesel, are inefficient compared to electrification, threaten food security by occupying 60 million acres of U.S. farmland, and increase emissions. The organization advocates for a shift toward electric vehicles and climate-smart agriculture rather than incentivizing fuel production from crops.

• The U.S. EPA has increased the volume of biofuels required in transportation fuel for the 2023-2025 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), which WRI claims contradicts the Biden administration's goal of eliminating emissions from cars and trucks via electrification.
• Crop-based biofuel production in the U.S. utilizes 60 million acres of farmland, with 40% of all U.S.-grown corn converted to ethanol, which WRI asserts harms the climate and threatens global food security.
• WRI argues that crop-based biofuels are an inefficient use of land compared to solar energy, stating that 300 acres of corn ethanol are required to move a combustion-engine car the same distance that a single acre of solar panels can move an electric vehicle.

APA

Lashof, D. (2023). U.S. EPA Increases Crop-based Biofuels Mandate in Renewable Fuel Standard, Hampering Climate Action. World Resources Institute. https://www.wri.org/news/statement-us-epa-increases-crop-based-biofuels-mandate-renewable-fuel-standard-hampering

Chicago

Lashof, Dan. U.S. EPA Increases Crop-based Biofuels Mandate in Renewable Fuel Standard, Hampering Climate Action. World Resources Institute, 2023. https://www.wri.org/news/statement-us-epa-increases-crop-based-biofuels-mandate-renewable-fuel-standard-hampering.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Lashof |first1=Dan |title=U.S. EPA Increases Crop-based Biofuels Mandate in Renewable Fuel Standard, Hampering Climate Action |publisher=World Resources Institute |date=21 June 2023 |url=https://www.wri.org/news/statement-us-epa-increases-crop-based-biofuels-mandate-renewable-fuel-standard-hampering |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{lashof2023epa, author = {Lashof, Dan}, title = {{U.S. EPA Increases Crop-based Biofuels Mandate in Renewable Fuel Standard, Hampering Climate Action}}, publisher = {World Resources Institute}, year = {2023}, month = jun, url = {https://www.wri.org/news/statement-us-epa-increases-crop-based-biofuels-mandate-renewable-fuel-standard-hampering}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }