E15: Boosting Corn Demand and Lowering Gas Prices

By Faith Parum

Farmers and ranchers face rising costs, weak prices and uneven global competition that threaten their livelihoods. At the same time, policy decisions in Washington can increase market access, spur demand and ensure fair competition. This new Market Intel series will examine six priority policy areas - trade, biofuels, whole milk in schools, interstate commerce, transparent input markets and prioritizing U.S.-grown produce - and how each can help strengthen the farm economy and rural communities.

In this article, the first of two exploring opportunities in biofuel markets, we examine permanent year-round E15 authorization. In the next installment, we will turn to the growing sustainable aviation fuel market, biodiesel, tax incentives that support biofuel production and the potential impact of small refinery exemptions on these evolving markets.

Few markets tie together energy security and farm profitability as closely as ethanol. For more than two decades, ethanol has provided a reliable outlet for U.S. corn, strengthened domestic fuel supplies and saved consumers money at the gas pump. Around the world, nations are turning to ethanol to bolster their own energy security, and global consumption has more than doubled since the early 2000s. This continued growth highlights the important role of American-made ethanol in meeting fuel demand.