Bill Summary
The proposed resolution expresses support for designating May 2025 as "Renewable Fuels Month." The resolution highlights the significant contributions of renewable fuels, particularly ethanol, biodiesel, and renewable diesel, in several key areas:
1. **Environmental Benefits**: It emphasizes the role of renewable fuels in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality by lowering pollutants associated with traditional fossil fuels.
2. **Economic Impact**: The resolution notes the job creation associated with the renewable fuels industry, which supports hundreds of thousands of jobs and generates substantial household income and GDP contributions. It specifically references the economic benefits of the ethanol and biodiesel sectors.
3. **Energy Independence**: It acknowledges how renewable fuels help bolster U.S. energy independence by reducing reliance on imported oil and providing a reliable domestic fuel supply.
4. **Support for Agriculture**: The resolution highlights the positive impact of renewable fuels on rural communities and the agricultural sector, particularly the added value to crops like corn and soybeans.
5. **Consumer Benefits**: It points out that renewable fuels can lower fuel prices for consumers while providing accessible alternatives to traditional petroleum-based fuels.
Overall, the resolution aims to recognize and promote the importance of renewable fuels in achieving environmental, economic, and energy goals in the United States.
Possible Impacts
The resolution regarding the designation of May 2025 as "Renewable Fuels Month" could affect people in various ways. Here are three examples:
1. **Economic Impact and Job Creation**: As the resolution highlights the significant contribution of the renewable fuels industry to the U.S. economy, people could see job growth in sectors related to biofuels, especially in rural areas. With more than 55,000 direct jobs associated with the ethanol industry and additional indirect jobs, individuals in these communities may benefit from increased employment opportunities, leading to higher household incomes and economic stability.
2. **Environmental Benefits**: The resolution emphasizes the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions through the use of renewable fuels like ethanol and biodiesel. This could lead to improved air quality and health outcomes for individuals, particularly in urban areas where air pollution is a concern. Lower emissions of air toxins and particulate matter can result in fewer respiratory problems and other health issues, positively impacting public health.
3. **Lower Fuel Prices for Consumers**: By promoting the production and use of renewable fuels, the resolution aims to increase the domestic fuel supply, which could contribute to lower fuel prices at the pump. Consumers may experience reduced costs for gasoline and diesel, making transportation more affordable. This could also lessen the overall economic burden on families and businesses that rely heavily on fuel for their daily activities and operations.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 203 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 203
Expressing support for the designation of May 2025 as ``Renewable
Fuels Month'' to recognize the important role that renewable fuels play
in reducing carbon impacts, lowering fuel prices for consumers,
supporting rural communities, and lessening reliance on foreign
adversaries.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 5, 2025
Mr. Ricketts (for himself, Mr. Grassley, Ms. Ernst, Mr. Moran, Mrs.
Fischer, Mr. Marshall, Ms. Smith, Mr. Rounds, and Ms. Klobuchar)
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee
on Energy and Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Expressing support for the designation of May 2025 as ``Renewable
Fuels Month'' to recognize the important role that renewable fuels play
in reducing carbon impacts, lowering fuel prices for consumers,
supporting rural communities, and lessening reliance on foreign
adversaries.
Whereas the United States is the largest producer of biofuels in the world,
which contributes to the domestic economy, creates jobs, and reduces
greenhouse gas emissions;
Whereas ethanol is a renewable fuel made of biomass from plant materials;
Whereas, in 2024, more than 55,810 jobs in the United States were directly
associated with the ethanol industry, with an additional 258,089
indirect and induced jobs supported across all sectors of the economy;
Whereas the ethanol industry created $28,300,000,000 in household income and
contributed more than $53,000,000,000 to the gross domestic product of
the United States;
Whereas ethanol and feed co-product production provide a valuable market for
United States corn, as a typical dry mill ethanol plant adds nearly $2
of additional value, or 55 percent, to every bushel of corn processed;
Whereas ethanol use reduces greenhouse gas emissions by between 44 and 52
percent compared to gasoline, and by displacing hydrocarbon substances
like aromatics in gasoline, ethanol also helps reduce emissions of air
toxins, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrous oxides, and exhaust
hydrocarbons;
Whereas, in 2024, ethanol played a vital role in bolstering the energy
independence of the United States by supplementing nearly 630,000,000
barrels of imported crude oil;
Whereas, in 2024, ethanol exports reached a record 1,930,000,000 gallons, an
increase of over 500,000,000 gallons compared to 2023;
Whereas \1/3\ of every bushel processed by an ethanol plant is used to make
distillers grains, one of the most efficient and desirable animal feeds
available;
Whereas biodiesel is a drop-in replacement for petroleum-based diesel fuel that
is produced from renewable resources such as recycled cooking oil,
soybean oil, distillers corn oil, canola oil, and animal fats;
Whereas renewable diesel is an advanced biofuel, made from the same feedstocks
as biodiesel, that reduces greenhouse gas emissions, while meeting the
same standard specification for diesel fuels as petroleum-based diesel;
Whereas biofuel production uses more than 1,000,000,000 pounds of soybean oil
per month and generates increasing amounts of soybean meal for feed
markets, driving a 30 percent increase in crush capacity across the
United States;
Whereas the biodiesel and renewable diesel sectors generated a total economic
impact of $42,400,000,000, supporting 107,400 United States jobs and
contributing $5,800,000,000 in wages;
Whereas biodiesel and renewable diesel can be used in existing diesel engines
without modification and are available throughout the United States;
Whereas advanced biofuels like biodiesel and renewable diesel reduce greenhouse
gas emissions by at least 50 percent compared to petroleum-based diesel;
Whereas biodiesel emits up to 80 percent less particulate matter than petroleum-
based diesel, improving air quality and health outcomes;
Whereas the production of biodiesel and renewable diesel adds to the total
domestic fuel supply, reducing the price of all diesel fuel at the pump;
Whereas, without the renewable fuel standard helping to drive production of
biodiesel and renewable diesel, the value of soybeans grown by farmers
in the United States would decrease by 10 percent;
Whereas sustainable aviation fuel is made from renewable biomass and waste
resources and can deliver the performance of petroleum-based jet fuel;
and
Whereas sustainable aviation fuel can be blended with conventional jet fuel and
the use of sustainable or blended aviation fuel requires no
infrastructure or equipment changes: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) supports the designation of May 2025 as ``Renewable
Fuels Month''; and
(2) recognizes--
(A) the important role renewable fuels play in
reducing the carbon impact of the United States;
(B) the ability of renewable fuels to lower fuel
prices for consumers;
(C) the support to rural communities that renewable
fuel industries provide; and
(D) the opportunity that the production of
renewable fuels provides to lessen the reliance of the
United States on foreign adversaries.
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