Tell the White House: Corn Ethanol isn't a Sustainable Fuel
- by: Smarter Fuel Future
- recipient: The White House
Time is up for the EPA to finalize their decision to lower the 2014 ethanol mandates for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The only missing piece is White House approval.
Research continues to show that ethanol is failing to deliver on the promise of reduced emissions. Instead, these mandates cause devastating impacts on the environment – including a loss of 5 million acres of conservation land and fertilizer runoff into our freshwater lakes and streams.
For example, Colorado scientists estimate that refining one gallon of ethanol-blended gasoline requires between 170 and 220 gallons of water, nearly twice as much as an individual uses daily.
Now is the time to stand with organizations like the Environmental Working Group, Oxfam and Friends of the Earth in calling for a change to U.S. biofuels policy.
Help protect our environment from effects of ethanol. Ask the White House to support lowering the 2014 ethanol mandates.
Research continues to show that ethanol is failing to deliver on the promise of reduced emissions. Instead, these mandates cause devastating impacts on the environment – including a loss of 5 million acres of conservation land and fertilizer runoff into our freshwater lakes and streams.
For example, Colorado scientists estimate that refining one gallon of ethanol-blended gasoline requires between 170 and 220 gallons of water, nearly twice as much as an individual uses daily.
Now is the time to stand with organizations like the Environmental Working Group, Oxfam and Friends of the Earth in calling for a change to U.S. biofuels policy.
Help protect our environment from effects of ethanol. Ask the White House to support lowering the 2014 ethanol mandates.
I am writing to express my concern about the negative impact of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) on our environment. I urge you to take action to prevent any further damage to our environment from the federal corn ethanol mandates contained in the Renewable Fuel Standard by supporting the EPA’s initial proposal to lower the 2014 Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs).
[Your personal comments will be inserted here.]
The RFS has troubling impacts on our environment, most notably when it comes to land conversion. Since President Obama took office in 2009, over five million acres of American conservation land—an area larger than the size of Yellowstone, Everglades and Yosemite National Parks combined—have been plowed to make room for more corn to fulfill federal ethanol mandates.
The process of plowing conservation land more than negates any sort of reduced emissions claimed by mandate supporters. Researchers from Princeton University found that the land conversion process spurred on by federal ethanol mandates doubles emissions over a 30 year period. Even the EPA’s own data has revealed worsened air quality and increased emissions as a result of the RFS.
In addition to land use and emissions impacts, federal biofuels mandates present a serious threat to our water supply. From field to final product, the process of producing ethanol strains our valuable resources. Between 2005 (the year where corn ethanol mandates were first introduced) and 2010, corn farmers increased their nitrogen fertilizer usage by over 1 billion pounds, contributing to the growing dead zone devoid of life in the Gulf of Mexico—and it’s only expected to get worse. Not to mention that refining one gallon of ethanol-blended gasoline requires between 170 and 220 gallons of water, compared to the five gallons needed to refine conventional gasoline.
The RFS is a broken policy with detrimental effects on the world around us. It’s time to reform federal corn ethanol mandates: lower the 2014 RVOs.
Sign PetitionSign Petition[Your personal comments will be inserted here.]
The RFS has troubling impacts on our environment, most notably when it comes to land conversion. Since President Obama took office in 2009, over five million acres of American conservation land—an area larger than the size of Yellowstone, Everglades and Yosemite National Parks combined—have been plowed to make room for more corn to fulfill federal ethanol mandates.
The process of plowing conservation land more than negates any sort of reduced emissions claimed by mandate supporters. Researchers from Princeton University found that the land conversion process spurred on by federal ethanol mandates doubles emissions over a 30 year period. Even the EPA’s own data has revealed worsened air quality and increased emissions as a result of the RFS.
In addition to land use and emissions impacts, federal biofuels mandates present a serious threat to our water supply. From field to final product, the process of producing ethanol strains our valuable resources. Between 2005 (the year where corn ethanol mandates were first introduced) and 2010, corn farmers increased their nitrogen fertilizer usage by over 1 billion pounds, contributing to the growing dead zone devoid of life in the Gulf of Mexico—and it’s only expected to get worse. Not to mention that refining one gallon of ethanol-blended gasoline requires between 170 and 220 gallons of water, compared to the five gallons needed to refine conventional gasoline.
The RFS is a broken policy with detrimental effects on the world around us. It’s time to reform federal corn ethanol mandates: lower the 2014 RVOs.
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