Biological Evidence 2024, Vol.14, No.1, 1-10 http://bioscipublisher.com/index.php/be 7 Basin import and further process Brazilian ethanol, typically converting hydrated ethanol to anhydrous ethanol before exporting it to the United States. They benefited from the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI) and free trade agreements, avoiding the 2.5% tariff and tax credits. This process was limited to within 7% of U.S. ethanol consumption. As of 2011, blender pumps received a tax credit of 45 cents per gallon, regardless of the feedstock used. Small producers received an additional 10 cents on the first 15 million gallons, while cellulosic ethanol producers were eligible for credits of up to $1.01 per gallon. The tax credits aimed at promoting biofuel production and consumption can be traced back to the 1970s. In 2011, these credits were based on the 2005 Energy Policy Act, the 2008 Food, Conservation, and Energy Act, and the 2008 Energy Improvement and Extension Act. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) conducted a study in 2010 and found that in the 2009 fiscal year, biofuel tax credits reduced federal revenue by approximately $6 billion, with corn ethanol and cellulosic ethanol accounting for $5.16 billion and $50 million, respectively. The CBO estimated that the cost to taxpayers for reducing one gallon of gasoline consumption was $1.78 for corn ethanol and $3.00 for cellulosic ethanol. Similarly, without considering the potential indirect land use effects, the cost to taxpayers for reducing greenhouse gas emissions through tax credits was approximately $750 per metric ton of CO2 equivalent for ethanol and about $275 per metric ton for cellulosic ethanol. On June 16, 2011, the U.S. Congress passed an economic development bill amendment, which eliminated tax credits and tariffs. However, this bill did not advance further. Nevertheless, the U.S. Congress did not extend the tariffs and tax incentives, allowing both to expire on December 31, 2011. Since 1980, the ethanol industry had received approximately $45 billion in subsidies (Khanna et al., 2008). 3.3 Sustainable development strategies Sustainable development of the U.S. ethanol fuel industry is an important issue, and for this purpose, the government has implemented a series of strategies to ensure sustainable management of biomass resources and sustainable production of ethanol fuel. By enhancing biomass resource management and establishing sustainable production standards, the U.S. government is committed to promoting the sustainable development of the ethanol fuel industry. The implementation of these strategies will help ensure the sustainability of ethanol fuel's feedstock sources and improve the sustainability and resource utilization efficiency of the production process. This not only aligns with environmental protection and sustainable resource utilization requirements but also contributes to driving the transition to clean energy and reducing dependence on traditional fossil fuels. The government strengthens the management of biomass resources to promote their sustainable utilization. Through the formulation of relevant policies and regulations, the government strives to ensure the responsible development and utilization of biomass resources, thus preventing over-harvesting and ecological damage. The government also encourages farmers and forestry sectors to adopt sustainable agricultural and forestry practices to ensure a sustainable supply of biomass resources. This not only helps protect biodiversity but also reduces reliance on traditional energy sources. The government also establishes production standards for ethanol fuel to enhance sustainability and resource utilization efficiency. These standards include environmental protection requirements and energy efficiency criteria, encouraging production enterprises to adopt sustainable production technologies and processes. The government may provide financial and tax incentives to encourage businesses to invest in environmentally friendly facilities and energy-saving equipment, reducing water, energy, and raw material consumption. Furthermore, the government may incentivize businesses to engage in research and development activities to drive innovation in the ethanol production process, thus improving resource utilization efficiency and reducing environmental impacts.
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