Source: United States Senator for Nebraska Deb Fischer
WASHINGTON, DC. – U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Agriculture committee, today joined 23 of her colleagues in urging the administration to increase the proposed biodiesel volumes in the upcoming Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) for 2023 and 2024 to provide certainty to farmers and producers. The bipartisan group of senators highlighted how American biodiesel moderates fuel prices and benefits the economy and environment.
“We strongly encourage EPA to utilize the upcoming RVOs for 2023 and 2024 to continue to increase volumes of biomass-based diesel. The production and use of biomass-based diesel contributes significantly to our economy and environment. These homegrown fuels add to our country’s critical fuel supplies, which helps to moderate fuel prices,” the senators wrote to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan.
“Farmers and biofuel producers are an essential part of the solution to the nation’s economic, environmental, and energy security challenges. They deserve certainty in this policy. A multiyear rule would provide the predictability and market signals that the biomass-based diesel industry needs to grow. Biofuels are poised to play an essential role in a sustainable, homegrown energy future. With the increased use of biomass-based diesel, we can advance efforts to diversify our nation’s fuel supply while creating and sustaining jobs, strengthening local economies, generating tax revenues, and improving energy security,” the senators continued.
Sens. Klobuchar (D-MN), Grassley (R-IA), Murray (D-WA), and Thune (R-SD) led the letter.
Additional cosigners include Sens. Tina Smith (D-MN), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Susan Collins (R-ME), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Angus King (I-ME), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT).
The full text of the letter is available here.
Background:
Senator Fischer has taken numerous actions to support biofuel producers, including:
Pushed the Biden administration to agree to allow the temporary sale of E15 year round.
Called out the Biden administration’s EPA for trying to let small oil refiners off the hook after failing to comply with the RFS.
Joined letter urging the Biden administration to stop delaying critical biofuels assistance.
Introduced the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act to ensure blends higher than E10 can be sold year-round.
Introduced the RFS Integrity Act to create transparency and predictability in EPA’s small refinery exemption process and require any exempted gallons to be accounted for in annual RVOs.
Joined letter to USDA urging them to use the Commodity Credit Corporation/December 2020 COVID relief bill to provide assistance to the biofuels industry.
Led bipartisan letter to EPA urging them to reject requests to waive RFS requirements and support robust RVOs.
Joined letter to President Biden urging him to reject calls to undercut RFS by reducing blending requirements and uphold his campaign promises.
Joined letter requesting meeting with President Biden about the lack of prioritization of biofuels in the administration’s policies.
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