Environmental Organizations Issue Letter Opposing US Ethanol ‘E15’ Fuel Bill

Environmental organizations oppose the 'year-round E15' bill, claiming it would increase greenhouse gas emissions through land-use changes, harm wildlife and water resources, and increase costs for consumers while primarily benefiting land investors.

• The proposed legislation to allow year-round E15 sales would likely lead to a 50% expansion in ethanol use, requiring additional cropland exceeding half the size of Indiana.
• Corn ethanol may result in higher emissions than conventional fossil fuels due to fossil energy inputs and land-use changes, where converting land for production typically releases twice the carbon saved from reduced tailpipe emissions over 30 years.
• Expanding biofuel use is estimated by the EPA to cost approximately $41 billion in additional fuel and food costs over three years, including $24 billion in fuel costs and $17 billion in food prices, which outweighs energy security benefits 80-fold.
• The financial benefits of biofuel policies are unevenly distributed, with inflation-adjusted cropland values in Iowa increasing by 250% over two decades; most gains accrue to investors because nearly 80% of Corn Belt farmland is owned by non-farmers.
• Crop-based biofuels cause additional environmental damage, including increased water pollution, strain on water supplies, and the conversion of wildlife habitat into cropland.

APA

World Resources Institute (2026). Environmental Organizations Issue Letter Opposing US Ethanol ‘E15’ Fuel Bill. https://www.wri.org/news/statement-environmental-organizations-issue-letter-opposing-us-ethanol-e15-fuel-bill

Chicago

World Resources Institute. Environmental Organizations Issue Letter Opposing US Ethanol ‘E15’ Fuel Bill. 2026. https://www.wri.org/news/statement-environmental-organizations-issue-letter-opposing-us-ethanol-e15-fuel-bill.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=World Resources Institute |title=Environmental Organizations Issue Letter Opposing US Ethanol ‘E15’ Fuel Bill |date=8 May 2026 |url=https://www.wri.org/news/statement-environmental-organizations-issue-letter-opposing-us-ethanol-e15-fuel-bill |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{worldresourcesinstitute2026environmental, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{Environmental Organizations Issue Letter Opposing US Ethanol ‘E15’ Fuel Bill}}, publisher = {World Resources Institute}, year = {2026}, month = may, url = {https://www.wri.org/news/statement-environmental-organizations-issue-letter-opposing-us-ethanol-e15-fuel-bill}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }