RFS Roundup: Bipartisan Group of Senators Asks Administration for Strong Renewable Fuel Standard

On April 23, a bipartisan group of 37 Senators, led by Senators Klobuchar (D-MN), Grassley (R-IA), Durbin (D-IL), Thune (R-SD), Franken (D-MN) and Kirk (R-IL), sent a letter to EPA, urging the agency to maintain a strong RFS by “revers[ing] course from the 2014 proposed rule and craft targets for domestic biofuels that reflect Congress’ intended goals for the RFS.”  The EPA will set the blending requirements for 2014 by June 1; the 2015 and 2016 standards will be set by November 30, but has not given indication as to what the volumes will be.  

According to the group of Senators, “The RFS has already proven to be an effective driver of alternative fuels and economic development … It has strengthened agriculture markets and created hundreds of thousands of jobs in the new energy economy, many of which are in rural areas. The biofuels volume requirements for 2014 and beyond have serious implications for our economy and energy security. We encourage you to ensure a final proposal continues to work toward achieving the RFS’s long-term economic and renewable energy goals.”

The other signers are; Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Dan Coats (R-IN), Joe Donnelly (D-IN), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), John Hoeven (R-ND), Ed Markey (D-MA), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Pat Roberts (R-KS), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Jon Tester (D-MT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).


 
 

For more information:  

Grassley, Bipartisan Group of Senators Call for Strong Renewable Fuel Standard, Grassley