RFS rumors from Administration prompt letter from Axne & Democrats

by | Jun 17, 2021 | 5 Ag Stories, News

Washington, D.C. is called a ?rumor mill? for a reason. Speculation and occasional loose lips can send many parts of the country into a defensive mode. After several years of unneeded RFS exemptions for big oil companies, the biofuels industry already has frazzled nerves. It doesn?t take much to get the supporters mobilizing.

The latest is rumors that have come out of the EPA and the Biden Administration that there may considerations of exempting oil refiners from the blending obligations in the Renewable Fuels Standard. Iowa Congresswoman Cindy Axne (D-3rd) joined with a bicameral group of Democrats to send a letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan and the White House saying that any such plan would be catastrophic to the biofuels industry and the environment. Such actions would undermine any environmental policy plans that the Administration has.

Congresswoman Axne said that the letter they sent has a strong message to the Administration and the EPA, and that is they will not stand by and see the RFS weakened.

President Biden made it clear in his campaign that he would bring back integrity to the biofuels industry and that he supported the RFS. These new reports would be a complete about-face to those campaign promises. Axne feels that this information is not coming with the blessing of President Biden and that he still is committed to the RFS, biofuels, and the American farmers. She adds that somebody inside the chain of information is getting ahead of themselves. This letter is meant to draw attention to the President?s prior commitments. Axne feels that having the support of both agriculture committee leaders, they can drive that point home.

Axne says she will not stand for any threats to the RFS, no matter who is in the White House.

Axne says that big oil companies have been supported by government policy for decades, and it is taxpayers who get stuck with the bill whenever they have a spill or another environmental situation. She adds that it is time to expand support and grow opportunities in rural America.

A copy of the letter may be found here.