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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will allow all cars made since 2001 to be fueled with gasoline that is 15 percent ethanol, doing away with the old standard of 10 percent.

The increase was one of many issues the National Corn Growers Association spent at least $400,000 lobbying for during 2010. Other clean energy policies they have fought for are expected to be met with resistance from the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.

Like in 2008, the association donated more money to Democratic candidates than Republican ones, hoping to stave off the eventual Republican take-over.

Through the Bush-era tax cuts extension, the group also received an extension of renewable fuel creation tax credits its members have benefitted from.

Besides ethanol creation, emerging markets in China and India have led to a need for increased corn production.

Critics of the fuel standard increase say that it will drive the price of corn even higher. Elsewhere, there are questions about the amount of corn we actually consume. It might be too much.

Reach executive producer Paresh Dave here. Follow him on Twitter: @peard33.