WASHINGTON DC (December 19, 2019) — Representative Dave Loebsack, co-chair of the House Biofuels Caucus, released the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued its final rule for 2020 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) blending requirements. The final rule does nothing to address the misuse of Small Refinery Exemptions (SREs) and reneges on the President’s promise made to Iowa farmers in September to account for SREs using actual waived gallons, not DOE recommendations.
“The final RFS rule set forth by the EPA by is another slap in the face to Iowa’s farmers and ethanol producers. It does nothing to stop the vast misuse of the small refinery exemptions, which only serves to erode the RFS and destroy demand for clean, renewable fuel, like ethanol. From Trump’s Twitter Trade War to his continuing to side with big oil over our farmers, this is just another in a long list of attacks on our rural communities by this administration. I will continue to stand up for our farmers and producers and fight to restore the integrity of the RFS.”
Background
Rep Loebsack has been a longtime supporter of the RFS, ethanol, and the biofuels industry. He has been leading the way in the House to increase oversight and transparency of the Small Refinery Exemption that the Administration has used to undermine the RFS, hurting our farmers and rural communities, while propping up Big Oil. As co-chair of the House Biofuels Caucus, Rep Loebsack helped lead the opposition of the excessive use of the SRE, including this August when the President and EPA granted 31 new waivers. As a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Rep Loebsack secured an oversight hearing this fall examining the Trump Administration’s abuse of SREs and considering legislation he helped introduce, HR3006, the Renewable Fuel Standard Integrity Act, which would help bring greater transparency to the use of SREs.
