New Studies: The Environmental Benefits of Corn Ethanol

Feb 17, 2023

In formal comments submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Growth Energy urged the agency to finalize robust renewable volume obligations (RVOs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for 2023-2025. Growth Energy backed its comments with two new studies reaffirming the need for EPA to accurately model bioethanol’s climate benefits and reject unsupported claims that attempt to diminish bioethanol’s significant environmental benefits.

The research submitted by Growth Energy includes a report from Ramboll, building on previous research submitted in 2019 that debunks much of the flawed science concerning biofuels’ effect on land use change and other environmental impacts, including under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The study adds to the wealth of public and private data demonstrating that the RFS remains “unlikely to result in material land conversion” or other impacts requiring further ESA reviews. A few key points from the study include:

There is no evidence of a causal link between the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and land use change (LUC).
There is no credible evidence that the proposed RVO standards will adversely affect wetlands, ecosystems, wildlife habitat, or water quality.
Modeling indicates that the statistical dependency between the implied conventional volume and corn prices is non-existent to very weak.

Growth Energy also submitted a report conducted by Environmental, Health and Engineering, Inc. which further highlights the important additional environmental and public health benefits of higher ethanol blends and adds to the literature knocking down flawed science on land use change.

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Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.