WASHINGTON - Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa is urging the Environmental Protection Agency to revise and increase its proposed volume obligations for renewable biofuels under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for 2014, 2015, and 2016.

"The RFS has added value to agriculture markets and energized many rural economies across Iowa and the nation," Grassley wrote to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy.  "It has helped create hundreds of thousands of jobs while lowering prices for consumers at the pump while reducing emissions.  It has also increased our national security by reducing our dependence on foreign oil.

"Unfortunately, the EPA's proposal will undermine these efforts.  While I recognize the proposal is a modest improvement over the previous proposed rule, without significant improvements, the proposal will lead to job losses and will increase our dependence on foreign oil.  It will harm the development of next generation and cellulosic fuels and weaken efforts to build out renewable fuels infrastructure."

Grassley cited the success of the RFS in driving the development and use of alternative and advanced biofuels.  He wrote that as a result of this program, cellulosic biofuels are already being produced in Galva and Emmetsburg, Iowa, with construction under way at a third facility in Nevada, Iowa.  Grassley said the EPA is underestimating the available supply of renewable fuel and available infrastructure needed to meet statutory requirements.

"It's clear, based on this proposal, that the EPA continues to fall for Big Oil's argument that the infrastructure isn't in place to handle the fuel volumes required by law," Grassley wrote.  "This proposal rewards Big Oil's obstruction.  The fact is, the supply of renewable fuel is adequate to meet the statutory volumetric requirements, and the EPA is therefore required to hold firm on those levels and see that the obligated parties make the necessary adjustments to distribute the fuel to consumers.  Importantly, if the program had been implemented by EPA on time and consistent with congressional intent, private investments in distribution infrastructure would have already been made.  Regardless, now is not the time to put oil producers in charge of implementing the Renewable Fuel Standard."

Grassley submitted his letter as part of the formal comment process on the EPA's proposed rule that closed Monday.   The EPA intends to finalize the rule by Nov. 30.  Grassley's letter is available here.

In April, Grassley was a leader of a bipartisan group of senators in calling for a strong volume requirement for biofuels under the RFS.  The senators' letter is available here.

Earlier this month, Grassley led a bipartisan group of 36 senators in urging the EPA to increase the proposed volumes it set for biodiesel production under the RFS.  That letter is available here.

Rock Island, IL/August, 2015 - Living Lands & Waters' (LL&W) 2015 Barge Party is coming up Thursday, August 7th from 5:30pm-9:00pm!  This event serves as a thank you to sponsors and supporters for their continuous dedication to helping LL&W thrive.  The night's festivities start with a fish fry & shrimp boil, a silent art auction, a cash bar, a meet and greet with the crew, and a wine pull! Of course, it wouldn't be a true celebration without live music! This year's lineup includes two local acts; Justin Morrisey and The Dawn, as well as Memphis native, Mara Daniele.

Thursday, August 6th - 5:30PM-9:00PM

Schwiebert Riverfront Park - 1801 1st Avenue - Rock Island, IL

Tickets are now on sale at www.bargeparty.org!  Individual Tickets are $50 each.

Print your ticket or show your digital receipt at the check-in table! Seating is limited. Reservations required by July 31, 2015. Tables are no longer available for purchase.

Living Lands & Waters is still searching for artists to donate pieces for their silent art auction. To learn more, or to enter pieces, visit bargeparty.org.

Public parking is available on surrounding streets and lots, in the Modern Woodmen Lot, and in a Free Parking Garage located on 3rd Avenue and 17th downtown Rock Island. Handicap Parking is available on the entrance of the park.

About Living Lands & Waters - Chad Pregracke started Living Lands & Waters in 1998 as a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the beautification and restoration of America's major rivers and to the education of people about environmental issues. From his single boat beginning, LL&W has grown to an internationally known organization with a fleet of barges and workboats.  LL&W engages thousands of volunteers each year in river cleanups, hands-on environmental education workshops, the Great Mississippi River Cleanup, Adopt-a- River-Mile programs and the Million Trees Project.  

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(WASHINGTON, D.C.)  - Governor Terry E. Branstad today signed a letter to be delivered to President Obama requesting a Presidential Disaster Declaration for 19 Iowa counties where significant damage was sustained from damaging winds, tornadoes, heavy rains, hail and thunderstorms from June 20-25, 2015.

The counties included in this request are: Allamakee, Appanoose, Butler, Clayton, Dallas, Davis, Des Moines, Guthrie, Howard, Jefferson, Lee, Lucas, Marion, Mitchell, Monroe, Warren, Wayne, Winneshiek and Wright.

The governor requested funding under the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Public Assistance Program, which is used to rebuild damaged infrastructure that may include roads, bridges, culverts and other public facilities, or to cover costs of emergency work during, and debris removal after, the storms. A joint federal, state and local preliminary damage assessment of the 19 counties found the severe weather caused an estimated $5.1 million worth of damage that could be eligible under the Public Assistance Program.

The governor also requested funding to conduct hazard mitigation activities for the entire state.

By U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley

Iowans know there's no use messing with Mother Nature during a summer thunderstorm. The occasional power outage triggered by severe weather requires households to ride out the storm without electricity.  Some families may welcome a reprieve from so-called screen time.  For others, the novelty of living off the grid wears thin. Sooner rather than later, the outage may turn to outrage. Accustomed to a reliable energy infrastructure, American society arguably has grown dependent upon energy-on-demand 24/7, 365 days a year.

Most Americans live and work in climate-controlled homes and businesses. We use energy to run our transportation fleet, operate farm machinery and power our homes, factories, schools and offices. Turning on the television, surfing the Internet, doing laundry and cooking with energy-dependent household appliances has become as essential to daily life as indoor plumbing.

Considering the significant consequences to the U.S. economy, public health, public safety and national security, maintaining access to affordable, abundant sources of energy is more than a matter of convenience. That's why a comprehensive energy strategy - one that includes expanding renewables, promoting conservation and developing traditional domestic sources - is a big priority for policymakers.

As Iowa's senior U.S. senator, I have long-championed efforts to cultivate Iowa's pivotal potential to produce clean-burning, emissions-free, homegrown renewable energy.  As the father of the first-ever federal wind energy tax incentive and a fierce advocate for renewable fuels, I lead the way in Washington to help Iowa contribute to a clean energy renaissance for America.

Promoting the production and use of renewable energy factors into tax and spending decisions at the policymaking tables. Unleashing science and technology has helped to improve fuel efficiency, produce electricity from wind and create fuel from crops and biomass. Fostering sound stewardship of our natural resources protects the environment and adds value to American agriculture.

Despite centuries-long tax breaks embedded in the federal tax code for fossil fuels, the more recent tax and regulatory tools designed to promote emissions-free and clean-burning renewables must survive a periodic rinse-and-repeat cycle on Capitol Hill. Key policy prescriptions that give renewable energy a fighting chance to flourish are included in a legislative package commonly known as a "tax extenders" package.  Some 50-plus provisions must withstand regular scrutiny in Congress. If they aren't renewed, they expire. I'm all for giving the tax code a thorough scrubbing, but the limited shelf life of these tax extenders generates a great deal of uncertainty and unfairness to renewable energy producers, job creators, workers and farmers.

As a senior member of the tax-writing Senate Finance Committee, I pressed for renewal of several tax provisions that are key to Iowa's economy and environment, including the Production Tax Credit (PTC) and the Investment Tax Credit (ITC). Both drive growth of renewable energy, including wind, solar, biomass, cellulosic ethanol and biodiesel. The 179 expensing and bonus depreciation provisions also generate significant economic growth and job creation.

I'm glad to report that Sen. Hatch, chairman of the Finance Committee, has included these key provisions in the legislative vehicle known as the chairman's mark, a key step in the legislative process.  This is a critical victory to extend these expiring tax incentives through December 31, 2016.

How do these tax incentives help foster America's ascent toward clean energy and economic growth?

They bring certainty to investment that helps boost development, sustainability and expansion of homegrown renewable energy.

Take wind energy. Generating wind power creates zero emissions. In Iowa, wind energy supplied more than 28 percent of all in-state electricity production in 2014. That puts us first in the nation. Even with 98 wind projects online, Iowa still boasts untapped wind power potential that is capable of exceeding 40 times the state's current electricity needs.

Wind energy drives economic growth and higher wages.  Iowa is home not only to an inexhaustible wind supply, but it also serves as a national leader of wind-related manufacturing facilities that produce good-paying jobs in construction, operations, maintenance and support services.

Wind energy is good for Iowa. It puts people to work in good-paying jobs, creates a new revenue stream in lease payments for farmers, fosters an economic ripple effect that revitalizes rural communities, lessens dependence on foreign energy, displaces pollution and expands the tax base to support local public services.

In 2014, wind energy supported up to 7,000 jobs in Iowa, generated $17.1 million in lease payments and accrued $10 billion in capital investments. That's good for economic growth.

The facts show that bringing stability and certainty to clean energy policy is good for the economy and the environment. Championing renewable energy that's engineered by human ingenuity and produced by human hands builds upon America's centuries-long promise of prosperity. Renewable energy can help raise standards of living and leave Mother Earth better than we found it for posterity.

My message for Washington: Let's not mess around with these expiring tax breaks that do so much good for America.