(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today issued a statement following the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) decision on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The Agency will not finalize a rule in 2014 and will delay the ruling until 2015 "prior to or in conjunction with action on the 2015 standards rule."
"We're pleased the Environmental Protection Agency and the Obama Administration halted their ill-advised proposed rule for the time being, but unfortunately, this decision only creates more uncertainty," said Branstad. "Across the nation, renewable fuels have helped spark economic development, create jobs, reduce our dependence on foreign oil and increase consumer choice. While we would have liked to see the Environmental Protection Agency commit to a robust Renewable Fuel Standard for the long-term, we received a clear signal through this process that America supports renewable fuels and our state's work to produce high-quality biofuels."
"Though we were hoping for the certainty of a robust Renewable Fuel Standard, we're pleased the Environmental Protection Agency backed away from their initial proposal," said Reynolds. "We'll continue fighting for Iowa farmers and consumers who value a choice at the pump and Americans who seek energy independence through safe, reliable and renewable energy."
Branstad and Reynolds have led the effort in Iowa to stop the EPA's proposed rule on the RFS. Some examples of their leadership are as follows:
State and Federal elected officials, including Gov. Branstad and Lt. Governor Reynolds, participated in a "Defend the RFS" event.
- Gov. Branstad traveled to Washington, DC, joining a group of Iowa farmers and biofuels producers, to testify at the Federal government's only public RFS hearing and met with EPA Administrator McCarthy.
- Gov. Branstad, Lt. Gov. Reynolds, Secretary Bill Northey and the entire Iowa congressional delegation sent a joint letter to Federal leaders advocating for the many benefits that flow from the RFS.
- Gov. Terry Branstad and Gov. Mark Dayton (D-Minn.) penned an op-ed in support of a strong RFS.
- Gov. Terry Branstad brought together a bipartisan group of six governors to sign on to a letter to President Barack Obama, EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy and United States Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack expressing their support for a strong RFS.
- Leaders from across the Midwest joined Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds for their "Hearing in Heartland," which was open to all interested citizens; 83 panelists from across the Midwest Region spoke from the heart about the importance of the RFS to their livelihoods and a healthy rural economy while only two individuals expressed opposition to a robust RFS.
- Gov. Branstad, in his Condition of the State address, called on the Iowa Legislature to pass a resolution in support of a robust RFS. The Legislature unanimously passed bicameral, bipartisan resolutions calling for the EPA to reverse course and support a strong RFS. View the resolutions: House Resolution 101 | Senate Resolution 101.
- State of Iowa leaders submitted formal comments to the EPA with current data and analysis that demonstrates the positive impact of the RFS and provides Federal leaders the opportunity and obligation to revise their initial volume obligations upward.
