Title IX: Energy

Although other laws, including the Clean Air Act and the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, are two primary laws governing renewable energy, the Farm Bill’s Energy Title also plays an important role.

The aim of the Energy Title is to assist farmers, ranchers, and foresters to produce renewable energy to help the U.S. achieve energy independence, create jobs and economic activity in rural communities, to lower energy costs for consumers, and to achieve important environmental objectives.

The first Energy Title to a Farm Bill was under the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002.

Initiatives authorized under the Energy Title include the biobased markets program, the biorefinery assistance program, the bioenergy program for advanced biofuels, the biodiesel fuel education program, the rural energy for America program, and the biomass crop assistance program.

“Gas with 15 percent bio-based ethanol (E15) is $0.15 per gallon less on average than standard gasoline… Biofuels like plant-based ethanol are a low carbon, clean fuel that play a vital role in reducing our dependence on fossil fuels… American ethanol reduces our dependence on foreign oil, protects U.S. energy security and shields consumers from global oil markets dominated by exporters in the Middle East and Russia… Ethanol is the cleanest, most affordable high-octane fuel on the market. It provides a superior octane boost without the carcinogens associated with other fuel additives.” – Growth Energy

“Our analysis indicates the current GHG profile of US corn ethanol is, on average, 39% lower than that of gasoline. For natural gas-powered refineries, this value is 43% lower. Finally, current trends in the ethanol industry and actions refineries could take to reduce emissions offer opportunities to lower the GHG profile of corn ethanol to between 47.0 and 70.0% relative to gasoline.” – USDA, 2018