The Environmental Protection Agency held a field hearing on proposed 2017 renewable fuel volumes under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) on June 9.
In attendance were farmers, biofuel advocates and the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) who were there to show support for more ethanol being available next year.
“NCGA and our state corn associations helped match [USDA] funds, making an overall investment totaling more than $200 million," NCGA President Chip Bowling said. "These are real dollars going toward real investments to help provide consumers a more affordable and cleaner fuel option at the pump. The EPA and this administration made a pledge to the American people to become energy independent by developing American-based energy sources such as corn ethanol. Farmers responded by growing enough corn for all of our needs. Businesses responded by investing in production infrastructure across rural America. As a result of these government promises and private efforts, the U.S. is able to sustain a prosperous renewable fuels industry. Now it’s up to EPA to deliver on its promises.”
NCGA Chairman Martin Barbre reminded the EPA that RFS was successful in 2014, before the EPA started making changes.
“Until the EPA proposed changes to the renewable volume obligation for 2014, the RFS was doing exactly what it was intended to do: driving the adoption of domestic renewable alternatives to petroleum, supporting jobs across the country, ensuring the United States remains a global leader in developing renewable energy sources and decreasing greenhouse gas emissions here at home. The EPA’s proposal threatens these outcomes,” Barbre said.
Over 100 people testified to the EPA in support of raising the volume for ethanol. Supporters of ethanol who were unable to attend the hearing have until Monday to provide their comments to the EPA.
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