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EPA Buys In to Big Oil’s Scare Tactics; Releases RFS Proposal that Would Hurt Consumers, Environment 

JOHNSTON, IOWA – Following the release of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) levels today, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) urged the Obama Administration to follow the law, use real-world data, and do away with Big Oil’s fictitious “blend wall” when setting final RFS levels.

“Today’s RFS proposal gives in to Big Oil lies and turns its back on consumers, fuel choice, and the environment,” stated IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw.  “The Obama Administration has no legal authority to reduce the ethanol numbers. For conventional biofuels, this is a path to nowhere. The proposed ethanol level for 2016 is less than what we already produced in 2014. This proposal will not crack the petroleum monopoly and will not allow consumers to benefit from the choice of lower-cost E15 and E85. As we’ve done over the past year, we’ll continue to work with all parties to fix this proposal.”

In addition to proposing ethanol volume requirements under the RFS for 2014, 2015 and 2016, the EPA also released proposals for the biomass-based diesel portion of the RFS for 2014 through 2017.

“It’s a positive that the proposal does allow for some growth in biodiesel,” added Shaw. “However, EPA inexplicably fast tracked Argentinian biodiesel imports earlier this year, and today’s proposed rule fails to take those imports into account. As this could actually lead to lower U.S. biodiesel production, we’ll be focused on working to improve the biodiesel targets for 2016 and 2017 during the comment period.”

Shaw concluded:  “Last year Iowans swamped the EPA with negative comments on the previous RFS proposal.  While this new proposal is better, it’s a far cry from good enough.  We need Iowans to once again step up and tell the EPA to follow the law and to let the RFS crack the oil monopoly as Congress intended.”

Iowa is the nation’s leader in renewable fuels production. Iowa has 43 ethanol refineries capable of producing more than 3.8 billion gallons annually, including 22 million gallons of annual cellulosic ethanol production capacity and one cellulosic ethanol facility currently under construction. In addition, Iowa has 12 biodiesel facilities with the capacity to produce nearly 315 million gallons annually.

The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association was formed in 2002 to represent the state’s liquid renewable fuels industry. The trade group fosters the development and growth of the renewable fuels industry in Iowa through education, promotion, legislation and infrastructure development.

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For more information, visit the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association homepage at: www.IowaRFA.org