Ernst Joins Grassley, Democrats, Republicans in Urging Biden Administration to Prioritize Renewable Fuel Standard

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) is joining Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), both members of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and several other Democrats and Republicans on a bipartisan letter urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to prioritize the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and to support biofuel.

 

Specifically, the lawmakers call on the Biden administration to maintain the blending requirements for 2022; deny all pending Small Refinery Exemptions (SREs); eliminate proposed retroactive cuts to the renewable volume obligations (RVOs); and set 2021 RFS volumes at the statutory levels.

 

The senators write that by the Biden administration taking those actions, “the EPA can quickly restore integrity, stability, and growth to the RFS and the U.S. biofuel sector while ensuring that the program continues to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, diversify our fuels, drive down gas prices, strengthen our national security, and drive rural economic opportunity.”

 

“We thank this bipartisan group of Senators for their efforts to protect and defend the Renewable Fuel Standard,” said Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “These Senators understand that the RFS is the most powerful and effective tool we have to immediately reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector, keep consumer gas prices in check, and support a vibrant rural economy. RFA proudly stands with them in calling on the Biden administration to follow through on its commitments to put the RFS back on track.”

 

“The final versions of the recently proposed 2020, 2021, and 2020 RVOs will have an immense impact for years to come on not only the biofuels industry, but also on the environment as our nation works to achieve net-zero emissions,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “We applaud our Senate champions for showing leadership in this bipartisan call for EPA to finalize strong RVO levels and eliminate any proposed retroactive cuts. By doing so, EPA would be making meaningful progress in the Biden Administration’s commitment to move toward more low carbon alternatives in our transportation sector while supporting farmers and biofuels producers.” 

 

Ernst, who also sits on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, is a relentless and longtime champion of biofuel and the RFS. Under President Biden, Ernst has been dogged in holding his EPA’s feet to the fire, especially after his disastrous actions to strip out billions of gallons of biofuel demand this past year. Ernst put forward legislation to modernize the EPA’s outdated modeling system and reminded President Biden of the promises he made on the campaign trail to supposedly support the biofuel industry—a Biden biofuel agenda that is simply amounting to “Promises Made, Promises Broken.”