Environmental outcomes of the US Renewable Fuel Standard - the impacts of corn ethanol on carbon levels

Ethanol plant - photo from DTN

On Feb 14, 2022, a group of researchers from the Universities of Wisconsin, Kansas, Kentucky and California published a paper that examines the overall impact of the US Renewable Fuel Standard on carbon in our atmosphere.  Here's a link to that article in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.  Based on  their analysis, the researchers showed that ethanol from corn and other biofuels actually add to green house gases.  

The researchers conclude that when considerations such as land use changes, increased fertilizer use, impacts of ethanol production and more, corn ethanol can actually be increasing green house gases.  Corn ethanol is the current cornerstone of renewable fuels. 

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Corn ethanol was found to be worse for the environment than gasoline in this paper.  Researchers from other institutions will add their analyses as they test the hypotheses of this paper.  That is how science works, through testing and data, and rigorous discussion based on facts. 

Science has become politicized, and it is likely that there will be much bluster and ballyhoo about this research, too.  Depending on where you get your news, the interpretation will change.  It's good to look at the data that the conclusions are based on and keep an open mind when the research is discussed.   

This article, on the Civil Eats website, provides a good summary of the paper for non-scientific audiences from an environmental perspective.  Limited reading of the article is allowed before the paywall closes.   This article is from one of the authors of the paper, is a statement of findings in his own words on the UC Davis website.  It is also a good summary of the findings.