Number: RL34130
Title: Renewable Energy Policy in the 2008 Farm Bill
Authors: Tom Capehart, Resources, Science, and Industry Division 
Abstract: The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-246, the 2008 farm bill) extends and expands many of the renewable energy programs originally authorized in the 2002 farm bill. The bill also continues the emphasis on the research and development of advanced and cellulosic bioenergy authorized in the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act (P.L. 110-140). Farm bill debate over U.S. biomass-based renewable energy production policy focused mainly on the continuation of subsidies for ethanol blenders, continuation of the import tariff for ethanol, and the impact of corn-based ethanol on agriculture. The enacted bill requires reports on the economic impacts of ethanol production, reflecting concerns that the increasing share of corn production being used for ethanol is contributing to high commodity prices and food price inflation.
Pages: 22
Date: September 17, 2008