Sen. Joni Ernst Urges EPA to Issue Strong Renewable-Fuel Levels in RFS

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) joined a bipartisan group of Senators urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to issue strong biofuels volume requirements for the 2014 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and beyond. The Senators asked the EPA to reverse course on their proposed 2014 rule to achieve the long-term and renewable energy goals originally intended by Congress.

In a letter to the EPA, the Senators explained, “When Congress passed the RFS and it was enacted into law, the intent was a forward-looking policy that drives investments in both biofuels production and the infrastructure necessary to bring these biofuels to market.”

The Senators added, “With its harmful 2014 proposed rule, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) limited biofuels volume requirements based on available existing infrastructure, a condition that falls outside of the EPA’s clearly defined waiver authority provided by Congress in the RFS.”

After sending the letter, Senator Ernst noted, “Iowa’s renewable fuel sector – including ethanol and biofuel industries – relies on a strong and long-term RFS so that our famers and producers can conduct and grow their businesses. As the EPA finalizes the rule, I will continue to push the EPA to issue renewable-fuel levels in RFS which encourage investment and innovation.”

View the entire letter here.

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