Iowa Senator Joni Ernst says she?s disappointed with the U.S. Supreme Court?s recent decision to reject an appeal by Growth Energy to reinstate an EPA rule that would have permitted year-round sales of fuel containing as much as 15% ethanol.
In an interview with IARN affiliate KMA, Ernst said the high court?s refusal to hear the appeal is disappointing, and that the decision dealt another blow to the industry.
“I fought so hard, you know, with this last administration to bring E-15 year-round to all of our drivers, and our consumers and, of course, our ethanol producers,” said Ernst. “So, this is a hit to the industry. We will continue to keep working on this issue very hard.”
Ernst says the ethanol industry has faced several setbacks in recent years, one of which was the EPA?s decision to retroactively lower the targeted 2020 Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs).
“What we really want to see is a stabilization,” she said, “so that our producers know what to expect. What we’ve seen so far from the Biden Administration, of course, is an unprecedented move. They rolled back the 2020 RVOs, and lowered the 2021 Renewable Volume Obligation. We’ve also heard rumors now that they’re going to open up with 2022, and set those volumes lower. That right now is unconfirmed, but it is something we do expect to come from EPA.”
Ernst then called on President Biden to stand behind his presidential campaign claims that he would support the renewable fuel industry.
“While we have had waivers in the past,” said Ernst, “I imagine we’ll continue to see those waivers with this administration. But, they’re also lowering the Renewable Volume Obligations, which is really, really hard on our ethanol producers. We’ve loved to see more support just as Biden promised during his campaign. But so far, that hasn’t been true.”
Ernst noted she will continue fighting to return E15 sales to year-round.
