Feb 7, 2022
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig led several co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Biofuels Caucus in urging the Biden Administration to take steps to protect and strengthen the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) works to finalize its RFS rulemaking. In a letter addressed to EPA Administrator Michael Regan, Craig and her colleagues encouraged Regan to maintain the blending requirements for 2022, deny all pending Small Refinery Exemptions (SREs), reconsider proposed retroactive cuts to previously finalized 2020 RVOs and set 2021 RFS volumes at the statutory levels.
In the letter, the Members acknowledged positive steps taken by the Biden Administration to strengthen Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) and rein in the EPA’s SRE policy, which prioritized the oil industry at the expense of family farmers. But they also expressed concern with proposed retroactive reductions to RVO levels – and encouraged the EPA to reconsider changes that could negatively impact producers and restrict economic growth in rural communities.
“The benefits of renewable biofuels are clear. They play a key role in reducing carbon emissions from the transportation sector, generate economic growth and markets for family farmers across rural America, and reduce the cost of fuel at the pump for hardworking Americans,” wrote the Members.
The Members continued, “We are also concerned about the negative impact that other elements of the proposed rulemaking would have on family farmers, biofuels producers and consumers in our districts.”
Craig was joined in signing the letter by Representatives Cindy Axne (IA-03), Cheri Bustos (IL-17) Ron Kind (WI-03), Mark Pocan (WI-02) and David Scott (GA-13).
You can find the full text of the letter here and below.
February 7, 2022
The Honorable Michael S. Regan
Administrator
The Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20004
Dear Administrator Regan:
As the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) works to finalize Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) rulemaking for 2020, 2021, and 2022, we write to emphasize the importance of restoring and maintaining RFS integrity for family farmers and rural communities across our districts.
The benefits of renewable biofuels are clear. They play a key role in reducing carbon emissions from the transportation sector, generate economic growth and markets for family farmers across rural America, and reduce the cost of fuel at the pump for hardworking Americans. These clear benefits are why we are encouraged by the following elements of the EPA’s proposed RFS rulemaking:
- The proposed 2022 Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) blending requirement. Setting the 2022 blending requirement for conventional biofuel at 20.77 billion gallons, including an implied 15 billion gallons for conventional biofuel, fulfills the statutory obligation of the RFS and creates market stability while enhancing the integrity of the RFS. We urge the EPA to finalize this proposed RVO as quickly as possible.
- The proposed restoration of 500 million gallons from the 2016 RVO. These gallons should never have been waived in the first place, and the proposal to restore 250 million gallons in 2022 and 250 million gallons in 2023 is the right one. We urge the EPA to finalize this restoration proposal.
- The proposed update to EPA’s Small Refinery Exemption (SRE) policy. The statutory language has always been clear: a small refinery must demonstrate “disproportionate economic hardship” to receive an exemption. We urge the EPA to finalize this proposal and ensure that the integrity of the RFS is not compromised by any future SRE abuse.
- The proposed denial of 65 pending SRE petitions. The SRE process was designed to provide assistance to small refineries in extraordinary circumstances, not to provide a loophole for regulatory relief. We urge the EPA to follow through on its proposed denial of 65 pending SRE petitions.
We are also concerned about the negative impact that other elements of the proposed rulemaking would have on family farmers, biofuels producers and consumers in our districts. Specifically, we believe that the following proposed actions would undermine the integrity of the RFS and create market uncertainty moving forward:
- The proposed retroactive reductions in the previously finalized 2020 RVO. These volumes were finalized in 2019, and any action to retroactively change them would be an unprecedented action that would deal a significant blow to the future integrity of the RFS. It would set a precedent that would call into question the reliability of future finalized RVO blending requirements, including the 2022 number. We urge the EPA to reverse course on this proposed retroactive reduction and consider the 2020 RVO final.
- The proposed 2021 RVO lookback and the rationale for doing so. The RFS establishes clear statutory guidance for blending requirements, and it is responsive to market conditions and fuel consumption trends. The 2021 RVO should adhere to those requirements, not reflect a retroactive lookback. We urge the EPA to reverse course on this proposed retroactive reduction and set 2021 RVOs at statutory levels.
We appreciate your continued engagement with Congress as the EPA implements the RFS. We look forward to future conversations with you and the Administration about the role of renewable biofuels in our collective effort to decarbonize the transportation sector, support family farmers and rural economies, and provide affordable fuel to all Americans.
Read the original press release here.