Governors' Biofuels Coalition calls for amended RFS proposal
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn and Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, chairman and vice chairman of the Governors’ Biofuels Coalition, have sent a letter urging the Obama Administration to ensure the development of domestically produced renewable fuels by amending U.S. EPA’s proposed renewable fuel standard (RFS) levels for 2014 so consumers have real choices at the fuel pump.
In the letter, the governors write, “The continued expansion of the biofuels industry is essential for our nation’s energy and economic future. Through continued expansion of biofuels plants, it will be possible to deliver millions of gallons of clean, renewable fuel, create thousands of jobs, lower imported oil expenditures, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 80 percent, compared to gasoline.”
The governors also expressed their concern about the impact the EPA’s proposed rule will have on biodiesel. “The EPA’s proposed volume cuts for biodiesel are creating turmoil, resulting in production cutbacks and layoffs. More than halfway through the year, many jobs are in jeopardy and many biodiesel plants have been negatively impacted.”
The governors pointed out the impact that the EPA’s proposed rule has had on the emerging cellulosic industry: “[T]he proposed RFS rule has discouraged new investment in the newly emerging cellulosic ethanol industry and now threatens the many new plants about to go into commercial production.”
“Amending the proposed rule to one that will build and restore America’s robust leadership in the development and production of domestically produced renewable fuels is crucial in ensuring a successful future in rural America,” the governors concluded.
The full text of the GBC RFS Letter is available on the GBC website.
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