The Renewable Fuel Standard Is the Problem, Not the Solution

Some time ago, the politicians in Washington decided that mandating the use of so-called renewable fuels in the nation's energy portfolio would accelerate their development and production on a commercial scale.

It was a large scale test that has failed, for the most part. The Renewable Fuels Standard is based on the assumption that forcing energy producers to utilize corn-based ethanol, cellulosic ethanol, wind power, solar technology and other so-called alternative energy sources would create a market for them. As a result they would be more plentiful and, therefore, cheaper.

It hasn't worked out that way. The RFS has resulted in increased costs all across the energy sector. Now, with that same sector focused on what the United States Environmental Protection Agency will announce is its proposed RFS for 2014, it's time for Congress to consider getting rid of it altogether.

[See a collection of political cartoons on energy policy.]

Most predictions are that the 2014 RFS will actually lessen the volume of corn-based ethanol required in the U.S. energy portfolio. Capital Alpha Partners, a Washington-based economic intelligence firm, said Tuesday it expected the EPA would reduce the mandate "to 13 billion gallons for 2014, as indicated in the draft numbers leaked last month" and effectively freeze it at that level for the next several years.

READ MORE:  http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/peter-roff/2013/11/12/its-time-for-congress-to-scrap-the-renewable-fuel-standard