Boosting Energy Independence with Biofuels

Farmers play a key role in fueling our nation. This summer American drivers have enjoyed the economic and environmental benefits of E15 gasoline thanks to a waiver from the Environmental Protection Agency. Without this waiver, E15 sales would have halted and not been available at gas stations throughout the busy summer driving season. Now it’s time to keep fueling American-grown biofuels, year-round.

Most Americans connect farmers to the role we play in growing the food that stocks our pantries. And that is vitally important work that farmers do in every region of our nation as we keep our food supply safe and secure. Farmers also grow thousands of other products that we depend on every day—from the fibers in our clothing to the ink in our printers. These American-grown products are creating jobs on and off the farm and playing an important role in protecting and renewing our natural resources.

Fueling Jobs

Biofuels are a leading example of how innovation and farm-grown dedication can fuel success.E15 fuel gives consumers an affordable option at the pump, with an average cost savings of 10-30 cents per gallon. Every penny can add up and make a big difference as families continue to face high prices. Consumers can also feel good about how their spending is going back into supporting jobs here at home. Across the economy, farmers and the agriculture and food supply chain support more than 47 million jobs in the U.S. Corn production alone in the U.S. contributed $62 billion to the GDP in 2023, and more than a third of that production goes into renewable fuels.

Fueling Sustainability

Biofuels also play an important role in sustainability on and off the farm. Thanks to innovation, precision technology and regenerative practices, farmers are growing more with less and improving soil health. Our sustainable practices on the farm are also helping to protect our natural resources beyond the farm gate. Biofuels are helping reduce emissions and protect the air we breathe. To put it in context, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from using renewable fuels instead of gasoline was equal to taking 30 million cars off the road in 2022 alone.

Fueling Independence

Energy independence has long been a priority for our nation, and with increasing global conflicts in the last several years, the issue has become more pressing. American-grown biofuels are critical to stabilizing prices here at home and ensuring that we have steady access to renewable energy to fuel our daily activities. In recent years, we have seen bipartisan support for providing year-round E15 both with the waiver this summer from EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and previously from Administrator Michael Regan. It’s time for Congress to act now to make critical biofuels available year-round. This would be a practical, bipartisan step lawmakers could take to support farmers and to bring economic relief to families across the country. An E15 waiver makes sense for hardworking Americans in every region, and it makes sense for the farmers working to keep our nation’s food and fuel secure.