New efforts pressuring the Environmental Protection Agency to expand the amount of ethanol in engines nationwide ignore the environmental impacts of ethanol production plants on our communities. They also put thousands of high-quality union jobs at risk.
Nutrient pollution is a serious problem affecting water quality across Ohio, and it’s only gotten worse since the Renewable Fuel Standard, or RFS, became law. The federal regulation, which requires a certain amount of ethanol in our nation’s transportation fuel supply, was intended to boost the production of homegrown fuels.
Numerous studies show that the RFS has necessitated extensive land and fertilizer use, contributing to the widespread destruction of wildlife habitats, polluted waterways, and hazardous algal blooms. Moreover, annual RFS mandates place extreme financial stress on independent refineries. The Toledo Refining Co. spends more on RFS compliance than all other operating costs combined, jeopardizing thousands of high-quality union jobs in Lucas County.