WASHINGTON, DC – Growth Energy, the coalition of U.S. ethanol supporters, issued the following statement after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released its final regulation on an expanded Renewable Fuels Standard:
“Growth Energy commends President Obama for recognizing the value of domestic ethanol both as a low-carbon fuel and as a U.S. jobs creator. The expanded Renewable Fuels Standard released today rightly puts an emphasis on America’s growth energy – ethanol – and that in turn will help our economic recovery, strengthen our national security and clean our skies,” Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy, said.
“There are several improvements to the rule from when EPA first proposed the expanded RFS last year. First, we’re pleased to see EPA make positive statements about E15 and mid-level blends of ethanol. If we see EPA approve E15 this year we can create 136,000 permanent jobs in the U.S. Further, the decision to make volume levels retroactive to the first of the year is a significant step toward reducing dependence on foreign oil.
“However, Growth Energy remains opposed to incorporating “indirect land use change” formulas in the rule. Imposing ILUC penalties on domestic ethanol will hamper the nation’s ability to grow its own fuel, and it will certainly cost us American jobs when we should be creating jobs. There is no scientific certainty behind ILUC, and including ILUC in this rule puts the cart before the horse. EPA should postpone incorporating ILUC until the issue has been thoroughly examined in a long-term study by the National Academy of Sciences.
“Further, by using skewed ILUC calculations, the RFS gives Brazilian sugarcane ethanol preferred status as a biofuel over American ethanol. I don’t think that was the intent of Congress when it passed the Energy Independence and Security Act. It won’t make the U.S. any more energy independent by switching our addiction from foreign oil to foreign ethanol. And considering Brazil’s failure to produce enough sugarcane to meet its domestic ethanol needs, I question the wisdom of public policy that goes out of its way to artificially sweeten America’s taste for Brazilian sugarcane ethanol.”
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About Growth Energy
Growth Energy is a group committed to the promise of agriculture and growing America’s economy through cleaner, greener energy. Growth Energy members recognize America needs a new ethanol approach. Through smart policy reform and a proactive grassroots campaign, Growth Energy promotes reducing greenhouse gas emissions, expanding the use of ethanol in gasoline, decreasing our dependence on foreign oil, and creating American jobs at home. More information can be found at GrowthEnergy.org.