OPINION:
Nebraska is a biofuels state. We are a leading producer of crops used for biofuel production. We are finding new opportunities to integrate and make biofuels in our supply chains. And we’ve incorporated them into our everyday lives. Nebraskans know that biofuels are a win-win-win. It’s time for the rest of the country to follow our lead.
The first win is for American consumers. Biofuels save consumers money at the pump. In 2025, Nebraskans saved over $300 million using E10 or higher ethanol blends. The last time I filled up at Hy-Vee, I saved 55 cents a gallon with E10. Using biodiesel, Nebraskans pay about 20 cents less a gallon at the pump. This extra money can be used for a house payment or groceries. And that’s why I am pushing for nationwide E15 and diversifying our biofuel markets. It would save Americans even more money.
When I was Governor of Nebraska, we ran a program on standard state vehicles to test how 30% ethanol blends (E30) would perform. As of 2025, over 600,000 gallons of E30 had been used in state vehicles. We saved taxpayers more than $300,000 in fuel costs with E30. The study proved that fueling up with this higher ethanol blend was safe, clean and cheaper.
But biofuels aren’t just good for consumers — they are also good for the environment. In the state E30 study, 529 fewer tons of CO2 emissions have been emitted so far. Higher ethanol blends also lower pollutants such as carbon monoxide that can be harmful to people with heart disease. They also improve local air quality by lowering tailpipe emissions of harmful particulate matter. This is a huge win for the environment.
It’s more than just ethanol blends, though. While Governor, I also signed the ImagiNE Nebraska Act to encourage public-private partnerships. This extends to biofuels projects. Just last month, I joined a ribbon-cutting for one of these projects. A new, state-of-the-art facility at Adams Land & Cattle in Broken Bow will convert cattle manure into pipeline-quality renewable natural gas (RNG). The feedlot is already preparing cattle for market. With this project, 1.2 million MMBtu of RNG will be produced each year. RNG helps economic development in rural communities and increases the nation’s fuel diversity.
Home-grown fuel can power more than the highways, though. It can power transportation in the seas and skies. I’m leading the fight in the Senate to support biofuels in different transportation sectors. I introduced the Renewable Fuels for Ocean-Going Vessels Act to create new maritime markets for domestic biofuels, such as biodiesel and RNG. Projects in Nebraska would be able to play a role in this. I am also a cosponsor of the Farm to Fly Act, which would expand the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel. This is the next step of American energy independence.
The cost-savings for consumers paired with the benefits for the environment make biofuels great for farmers and ranchers. Biofuels help them get better prices for their crops. Increased demand also spurs job growth in rural communities. And with partnerships like the Neogenyx Adams Land & Cattle site, biofuels are creating new revenue streams in the agriculture supply chain.
That’s why I continue to fight for biofuels on behalf of our agricultural communities. For example, Republicans passed the Working Families Tax Cuts. The legislation extended the 45Z clean fuel tax credit to support domestic biofuel production. This is dual purpose: it supports farmers and ranchers, and bolsters domestic energy production. I am also working with the administration to ensure small refinery exemptions do not undercut our farmers and ranchers. Stable markets are necessary for our farmers and ranchers as they feed and fuel our world.
Biofuels are a win-win-win. They drive down the cost at the pump for consumers, are good for the environment, and help farmers get better prices for their crops. And there’s a fourth win: their role in American energy independence. Nebraska’s proven solutions are ready for America.
• Sen. Pete Ricketts is the junior U.S. senator for Nebraska. He previously served two terms as governor of Nebraska. He’s a member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, where he chairs the subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Water.
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