The U.S. renewable fuels industry on Aug. 8 celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Renewable Fuel Standard. Federal lawmakers also marked the occasion with resolutions introduced in the House and Senate earlier this month.&nbsp;The RFS was first established by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which was signed by President George W. Bush on Aug. 8, 2005. The program was later expanded by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, also signed by Bush on Dec. 19, 2007.&nbsp;Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., and Rep. Max Miller, R-Ohio, on Aug. 1 introduced resolutions commemorating the success of the RFS. &nbsp;The resolutions honor the RFS “as a milestone in America’s commitment to strengthening energy security, supporting rural communities, growing the economy, and improving environmental performance.” It further “recognizes the positive impacts of the RFS on United States energy policy, the agricultural sector, and the environment over the past 2 decades.”The Renewable Fuels Association recently published a report highlighting the positive impacts of the RFS, noting the program has lowered gas prices, enhanced domestic energy security, supported the farm economy and helped the air and environment. “Over the past two decades, the Renewable Fuel Standard has delivered tremendous benefits for our nation—reducing dependence on foreign oil, lowering fuel costs for consumers, creating hundreds of thousands of jobs across rural America, and strengthening the agricultural economy,” said Geoff Cooper, president and CEO of the RFS. “It has spurred market competition and expanded choices at the pump for drivers nationwide. We’re thrilled to see Congress commemorating this milestone with a strong bipartisan resolution, and we applaud Senator Pete Ricketts, Representative Max Miller, and the many lawmakers who joined in honoring one of the most successful and forward-looking energy policies in U.S. history.”Growth Energy noted that U.S. biorefineries have produced more than 250 billion gallons of ethanol since the RFS was first established in 2005. Over the same time period, U.S. ethanol plants have purchased 92.7 billion bushels of corn, driving more than $425 billion of revenue for American farmers. “The RFS is the foundation of America’s bioeconomy,” said Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy. “It supports hundreds of thousands of rural jobs and has shielded an entire generation of drivers from volatility in global oil markets. More than 10 percent of U.S. fuel supplies now come from renewable sources like ethanol, representing billions of gallons in savings. And it’s still fueling growth. As part of a drive toward U.S. energy dominance, the U.S. EPA recently proposed to set biofuel blending at the highest volume in the history of the program. Those numbers aren’t yet final, and the EPA still needs to address petitions from refiners seeking to skirt the RFS, but if we remain on a growth trajectory, the benefits to American motorists and farmers are overwhelming.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Clean Fuels Alliance America applauded the congressional resolutions and highlighted the impact of the program on the U.S. biobased diesel industry. “Clean Fuels thanks Senator Pete Ricketts and Representative Max Miller and their colleagues for honoring the Renewable Fuel Standard’s foundational role in strengthening America’s energy and farm security,” said Kurt Kovarik, vice president of federal affairs at Clean Fuels. “Under the RFS over the last twenty years, U.S. biodiesel and renewable diesel production has grown from a few hundred million gallons to 5 billion gallons, meeting 9 percent of the nation’s on-road diesel demand. Biodiesel and renewable diesel production is vital for America’s economy, supporting $42.4 billion in economic opportunity. It is essential to America’s farmers, supporting 10 percent&nbsp;of the value of every soybean grown in the United States. With robust RFS volumes proposed for the coming years, the benefits keep growing.”

2025-08-11 - US biofuel industry celebrates 20th anniversary of the RFS (4 publications)

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The U.S. renewable fuels industry on Aug. 8 celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Renewable Fuel Standard. Federal lawmakers also marked the occasion with resolutions introduced in the House and Senate earlier this month. 

US biofuel industry celebrates 20th anniversary of the RFS

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