Renewable fuels reduce pump prices in two ways: (1) by adding supply to otherwise tight global oil supplies; and (2) by displacing some of the most expensive performance components of motor fuel (e.g., octane) with cheaper, renewable alternatives. To learn more about biodiesel and fuel prices, click here. To learn more about ethanol and fuel prices, click here and here.

Yes. The vast majority of motor fuels today contains 10 percent or less biofuels by volume. These blends are certified and warrantied for use in nearly all vehicles. Some of the newer blends (e.g., E15/UNL88/B20) contain slightly more biofuels, but are clearly labeled at the pump and are still certified for use in most vehicles on the road today. For more information about E15/UNL88, click here. For more information about biodiesel, click here.

No. Small engines are certified for use with common biofuels blends. Newer blends (e.g., UNL88/E15) are clearly labeled as not intended for small engines. Biofuel blends are often blamed for engine trouble stemming from poor winter storage or stale fuel.

Yes. Both ethanol and biodiesel blends reduce the need for some of the most toxic and volatile compounds in motor fuel, and reduce both smog-forming and toxic emissions.

No. The increase in biofuels production does not correlate with food prices. Agricultural commodity prices continue to be low largely due to yield-per-acre increases over time. Further, the “farm share” of every dollar spent on food is very low (<15%). Oil prices have a greater impact on food prices than biofuels production.

Energy markets are policy-driven, and fuel energy is no exception. There are government support programs (including tax benefits) to facilitate investment in and access to petroleum-based products, and the RFS is necessary to allow petroleum alternatives to access the marketplace and (ultimately) the consumer.

RFS critics argue that U.S. biofuels policy expands U.S. agricultural production into sensitive habitats. Empirical (historical) data shows that these effects have not occurred — largely due to ongoing yield-per-acre increases, crop shifting, and more efficient feedstock utilization.

There is now biofuels production in 40 states. In addition, the U.S. biofuel industry’s supply chain (e.g., technologies, enzymes, distribution) is the largest part of a U.S. biomanufacturing sector that benefits nearly every U.S. state.

Biofuel blends have been available for decades, and fuel infrastructure fabricators have kept up with progress by certifying their equipment for biofuel blends at higher percentage-based volumes than utilized today.