The Renewable Fuels Association thanked six members of the House of Representatives who stood up Monday for the importance of the Renewable Fuel Standard, urging U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan to move forward on four agency proposals to bolster the RFS, while expressing concerns about two other proposals from the EPA that would undermine demand for low-carbon renewable fuels.
“The benefits of renewable biofuels are clear,” the six House members wrote. “They play a key role in reducing carbon emissions from the transportation sector, generate economic growth and markets for family farmers across rural America, and reduce the cost of fuel at the pump for hardworking Americans.”
Specifically, the six members—Reps. Angie Craig (D-MN), Cindy Axne (D-IA), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Cheri Bustos (D-IL), David Scott (D-GA), and Ron Kind (D-WI)—expressed support for EPA’s proposed 2022 renewable volume obligation (RVO) and its proposed restoration of 500 million gallons of illegally waived volume from the 2016 RVO. In addition, the legislators supported EPA’s proposed update to its small refinery exemption (SRE) policy and proposed denial of 65 pending SRE petitions. The group did, however, express their opposition to proposals to roll back the already-established 2020 RVO and to reduce the 2021 volume to below that required by statute.
“We applaud these House members for standing with American farmers and renewable fuel producers,” said Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “They understand the impacts these EPA proposals could have on their districts and across America’s heartland at a time when we need to focus on rebuilding the economy and reducing carbon emissions. We appreciate their support and hope EPA will listen and respond.”
Earlier, 14 senators from both parties struck a similar tone in a letter to Regan as the comment deadlines on the agency’s proposals came near an end. Click here for RFA’s comments to EPA on the proposal related to renewable volume obligations, and here for RFA’s comments on the small refinery exemption proposal.
