WASHINGTON, DC — Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor released the following statement regarding the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works hearing on the nomination of Bill Wehrum to serve as Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Assistant Administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation (OAR):
“In recent weeks, the biofuels industry has rallied against a series of concerning actions by the EPA that signal a backpedaling on the agency’s support for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), which will impact our industry. We need assurance that the EPA remains in sync with the president and his commitment to renewable fuels.
“EPA fuel policies need to better reflect our modern-day marketplace, which included the wide availability and proven environmental and engine performance advantages of ethanol-blended fuels. The Assistant Administrator for OAR plays an essential role in administering those policies, and we are eager to learn more about how Mr. Wehrum would approach this office in tomorrow’s hearing.
“The RFS is lowering our nation’s dependence on foreign oil, keeping our air clean, revitalizing rural America, and providing consumers with more affordable fuel options at the pump. We urge the Senate to ensure Mr. Wehrum would carry out the duties of this position in a manner that moves our nation forward on the progress we have made since the RFS was passed by Congress and signed into law by the Bush Administration more than a decade ago. The RFS is specifically designed to blend more renewable biofuel into our fuel mix every year, and EPA’s role is to administer this law and continue building on its success.”
The hearing will begin at 10 a.m. EDT October 4, 2017, in Room 406 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.
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