WASHINGTON, D.C. – Growth Energy thanked members of the Congressional Biofuels Caucus for combating oil-backed efforts to undermine the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) in the wake of COVID-19. In a letter from the Congressional Biofuels Caucus, led by U.S. Representatives Abby Finkenauer (D-Iowa), Collin Peterson (D-Minn.), Rodney Davis (R-Ill.), Dave Loebsack (D-Iowa), and Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), the lawmakers demanded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reject RFS waivers that would deal “another crippling blow” to biofuel producers and “compound the challenges facing rural America.”
“Rural America cannot afford another setback, and we’re grateful for the tireless efforts of House leaders to protect our road to recovery by defending the Renewable Fuel Standard,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “Oil industry efforts to waive the RFS would do nothing to reverse the market challenges facing all fuel makers, but they would eliminate a vital economic lifeline for thousands of rural workers, biofuel producers, and farmers who already face unprecedented hardship. It’s past time for the administration to declare these schemes dead on arrival, so we can all get back to rebuilding America’s agricultural supply chain in the wake of COVID-19.”
In support of the call to action by elected leaders, Growth Energy sent a separate letter to the EPA, reminding regulators of urgent appeals that have already flowed in from Midwest governors, senators, mayors, and other rural champions.
“With these conditions, it is absurd to even entertain the thinly veiled attacks of the oil industry on the RFS,” wrote Skor. “Plummeting fuel demand affects everyone in the energy supply chain, and as you know, the RFS volume obligations are percentage calculations that automatically adjust with falling or rising fuel demand.”
“Waiving the 2020 RVO would push more and more biofuel producers to shutdown causing even more damage to a battered agriculture industry,” added Skor.