Ernst on RFS Renewable Volume Obligations for 2018 and 2019

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), a member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, released the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released their proposed Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) renewable volume obligations (RVOs) for 2018 at 15 billion gallons of conventional ethanol, meeting the levels Congress prescribed in 2007, along with setting the 2019 RVOs for biodiesel at 2.1 billion gallons:

“The RFS is critical to supporting our agricultural and rural economy, reducing our dependence on foreign oil, and providing consumers with choices at the pump,” said Senator Ernst. “While I am pleased the new administration has set the proposed volume requirements for conventional ethanol for 2018 at congressionally approved levels, I am disappointed that the 2019 biodiesel number was held constant, and would like to see it more accurately reflect current domestic usage and production capacity.

“Iowa leads the nation in the production of ethanol and biodiesel, and maintaining a strong RFS aligned with congressional intent is important to our state and country. The RFS has proven to be a major driver of alternative fuels and economic development, and I will continue to protect and promote it in the Senate.”

Senator Ernst recently raised the importance of the RFS to President Trump and United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Perdue. Additionally, the Iowa Senator, a vocal supporter of biofuels, has repeatedly emphasized the important role of the RFS in a column earlier this year and with EPA Administrator Pruitt in his pre-confirmation meeting, confirmation hearing, and in multiple letters.