Bill Overview
Title: Food before Fuel Act
Description: This bill revises the renewable fuel program to eliminate the annual renewable fuel standard. The existing standard requires 36 billion gallons of renewable fuel that is produced from renewable biomass to be blended into transportation fuel by 2022. The renewable fuel standard includes fuels that are produced from renewable biomass, such as corn. The bill would not affect the standards under the program for advanced biofuel, cellulosic biofuel, or biomass-based diesel.
Sponsors: Rep. Rice, Tom [R-SC-7]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals affected by changes in the corn market and renewable fuel production
Estimated Size: 300000000
- The global population might be affected by changes in corn demand, as corn is a staple food in many countries, and shifts in supply and demand can alter prices and availability.
- Eliminating the renewable fuel standard focusing on corn means that more corn might be available for food rather than fuel production, potentially decreasing food prices.
- Farmers who grow corn specifically for fuel might be economically impacted due to reduced demand for biofuel produced from corn.
- People employed in the transportation and biofuel sectors might see changes depending on the shifts in production demand.
- Countries dependent on U.S. corn exports could experience changes in market dynamics.
Reasoning
- A variety of people across different demographics, occupations, and geographic locations could be impacted by the Food before Fuel Act.
- The policy could primarily affect farmers, workers in the biofuel industry, and consumers who may experience changes in food prices.
- Considering the budget and size of the program, direct impacts will be more noticeable among those directly involved with corn production and biofuel manufacturing.
Simulated Interviews
Corn farmer (Iowa)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've invested heavily in biofuel production over the years. This policy might cut into my profits unless I pivot to food markets.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 9 |
Biofuel plant worker (Kansas)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm worried about job stability. If we process less corn, there could be layoffs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 8 |
Truck driver (California)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm uncertain how this will impact my workload, but shifts in biofuel demand could affect transportation needs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 8 |
Environmental policy analyst (New York)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Eliminating the renewable fuel mandate could have mixed environmental benefits. It's important we check our biodiesel alternatives.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Agricultural student (Illinois)
Age: 24 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy gives a chance to rethink long-term agricultural practices, but immediate farmer income concerns exist.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Corn farmer (Nebraska)
Age: 48 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I already diversify my crops, but losing fuel contracts will complicate our budgeting.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 9 |
Agricultural consultant (Texas)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy opens up new food market opportunities but needs careful crop planning advice to farmers.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 9 |
Economist (Florida)
Age: 52 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The shift could decrease food prices, potentially benefiting consumers more broadly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Restaurant manager (Georgia)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Lower corn prices could help reduce my supply costs, which is a positive change.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Renewable energy advocate (Michigan)
Age: 40 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy emphasizes the need for sustainable fuel alternatives beyond corn. It's a step in the right direction for the environment.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $70000000)
Year 2: $50000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $70000000)
Year 3: $50000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $70000000)
Year 5: $20000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $30000000)
Year 10: $5000000 (Low: $1000000, High: $10000000)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The policy would likely lead to restructuring within the agricultural (corn farming) sector and the renewable fuels industry.
- Potential international trade implications related to corn exports and global market reactions.
- The impacts of this policy exist within broader energy and environmental policy frameworks.