Ernst Slams Biden’s Move to Slash Demand for Biofuel, Break Campaign Promises

WASHINGTON—Today, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), a member of the Senate Agriculture and Environment and Public Works Committees, slammed President Biden’s decision to reopen the finalized 2020 RVO rule and propose 2021 and 2022 volume obligations that strip out billions of gallons of biofuel demand, going back on multiple campaign promises he made to Iowa farmers and producers. Senator Ernst released the following statement:

 

“Iowa is the number one producer of ethanol in the country, and 85% of Iowans believe biofuel plays an integral part in our economy. This decision is an about-face by President Joe Biden who campaigned on his supposed support for renewable fuels,” said Senator Joni Ernst. “These RVOs will slash demand for biofuel and have devastating, long-lasting consequences for Iowa farmers and producers. While President Biden may have forgotten his promise to Iowans, Iowa farmers and producers and I sure haven’t, and we will work together to fight back against this harmful policy.”

 

Background :

Ernst has been a longtime champion of Iowa’s biofuel producers and farmers and a fierce defender of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

 

Earlier this year, Ernst reminded President Biden of the promises he made on the campaign trail to support the biofuel industry and the family farmers who rely on it, after reports indicated that the Biden Administration was weighing bailouts for Big Oil and undermining the RFS. Ernst, along with Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), also sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on actions by the Biden Administration that have the potential to harm Iowa’s agriculture industry, including the rumored plans to undercut the RFS.

 

This summer, Ernst joined several senators in calling for a meeting with President Biden and his Cabinet on biofuel, expressing concern with the Administration’s policies. In a letter to the president, the lawmakers called for specific actions from the Administration, including formally recognizing the reduced carbon emissions of biofuel, expanding export opportunities, promoting biofuel blending infrastructure, ensuring for access to E15 year-round, and enforcing the RFS.