WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor thanked Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) for introducing the Defend the Blend Act in the U.S. Senate. This bipartisan legislation would prevent the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from retroactively reducing past Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) which have already been finalized.
“We’re grateful to Senators Klobuchar, Grassley, Duckworth and Ernst for introducing the Defend the Blend Act in the Senate, legislation that would offer more certainty in the marketplace, especially after EPA’s recent proposal to retroactively lower 2020 RVOs,” said Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy. “The Renewable Fuel Standard was put into place to blend more low-carbon biofuels into our nation’s transportation fuel supply, and it includes a built-in mechanism that adjusts for changes in fuel demand. Retroactively reducing RVO levels is completely unwarranted and unnecessary, adds uncertainty to the marketplace, and exceeds EPA’s legal authority.”
The Defend the Blend Act was previously introduced in the U.S. House by Reps. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa), Rodney Davis (R-Ill.), Angie Craig (D-Minn.), and Ron Kind (D-Wis.).
Background
Last week, EPA released its draft rule that would lower conventional ethanol volume to 12.5 billion gallons for 2020, retroactively waiving 2.96 billion gallons from what was set for 2020 almost two years ago. Skor expressed that lowering 2020 RVOs would “impact the entire fuel supply chain, including the farmers, producers, blenders, retailers, and responsible refiners who based business decisions on final requirements in place for some time.” More information on RVOs can be found here.