Ernst on DC Circuit Court’s Rejection of EPA’s Use of ‘Inadequate Domestic Supply’ Waiver

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry and the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, issued the following statement after the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals struck down the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) use of “inadequate domestic supply” waiver authority to reduce the Renewable Fuel Standard’s Renewable Fuel Volumes (RVO) for 2016:

“I was pleased the court rejected the EPA’s flawed methodology behind reducing the Renewable Fuel Standard’s renewable fuel volumes for 2016. Supplying enough renewable fuels has not been a problem for our farmers and biofuels producers, and the EPA’s use of ‘inadequate domestic supply’ waiver authority created needless uncertainty for the industry. Having a strong and long-term RFS is of critical importance to Iowa, as well as our nation, and I’m glad the court recognized this today.”

In 2015, Senator Ernst pushed back on both the proposed and final RVO rules from the EPA, and joined her Senate colleagues in specifically pointing out the flawed methodology that was outside of the EPA’s authority.