The Ethanol Mandate – EPA Moves Ahead With Higher Energy and Food Prices and a Worse Environment

Ben Lieberman / May 06, 2009

Consumers already know that the federal government’s ethanol mandate is bad news, but the latest EPA proposal works out the gory details for the years ahead.

Thanks to the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, increasing amounts of renewable fuels have to be added to the gasoline supply. Currently, the mandated amounts are 11 billion gallons for 2009, met mostly by corn based ethanol. The targets rise to 36 billion by 2022 and will have to include other as-yet not commercially viable alternatives like cellulosic ethanol. EPA’s proposal provides more specifics as to how this mandate will be met. (more…)