“Biofuel Industry Exposed: Toxic Air Pollutants and Environmental Impact Revealed”

Title: New Report Finds Biofuel Refineries Emitting More Toxic Air Pollutants Than Petroleum Counterparts

For decades, American farm policy has directed taxpayer dollars towards renewable, crop-based fuels, touting them as cleaner alternatives to petroleum. However, a recent review of industry data by the Environmental Integrity Project (EIP) has revealed that biofuel refineries in the Midwest are emitting toxic air pollutants at levels exceeding those of petroleum refineries.

The EIP researchers, including Kira Dunham, found that biofuel facilities released 12.9 million pounds of hazardous air pollutants in 2022, compared to 14.5 million pounds from oil refineries. These pollutants include carcinogenic formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, hexane, and acrolein. The report highlighted that biofuels are a significant source of hazardous air pollutants, contradicting claims of being a cleaner alternative.

One ethanol and grain processing plant in Illinois, operated by Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), was identified as the largest source of hexane emissions in the country, known to cause nerve damage. Robert Hirschfeld from Prairie Rivers Network raised concerns about the health impacts on residents near the plant and urged the EPA to regulate it like any other large-scale polluter.

The biofuels industry is set to expand with support from the Biden administration for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) development. Two-thirds of the new biofuels facilities under construction or proposed are expected to produce aviation fuel from wood or plants. This expansion comes as the U.S. leads in biofuel production, primarily corn-based ethanol, with 40% of the nation’s corn and half of its soybeans going into gas tanks.

However, research has shown that the environmental benefits of biofuels are questionable. The conversion of grasslands and forests into cropland for corn production has led to increased carbon emissions. Ethanol plants have also been found to violate air pollution control permits, with over 40% of plants violating regulations between July 2021 and May 2024.

The EIP report highlighted the lack of oversight in the biofuels industry, with ethanol plants exempt from some air pollution permitting requirements. Despite industry claims of compliance with emissions limits, the report found frequent violations, with 98 out of 240 biofuels plants violating their permits.

Geoff Cooper, president of the Renewable Fuels Association, disputed the report’s findings, stating that ethanol facilities are tightly regulated and in compliance with emissions limits. However, EIP spokesperson Tom Pelton stood by the report’s accuracy, citing data released by biofuels companies to the EPA.

As the biofuels industry continues to grow, the debate over its environmental impact and regulatory oversight intensifies. The findings of the EIP report raise questions about the true sustainability and cleanliness of biofuels as an alternative to petroleum.