South Dakota Ag Connection - Republican Governors Concerned Over EPA Actions on RFS

South Dakota Ag News Headlines

Republican Governors Concerned Over EPA Actions on RFS
South Dakota Ag Connection - 10/17/2017

Monday four Republican Governors sent a letter to President Trump with concerns on the recently proposed changes to America's Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), urging the president to keep his promises to rural America to support the RFS.

"The renewable fuels industry in our states--and others--is poised to grow if the EPA sends positive and consistent market signals through increases in the required volumes. That will enhance America's energy security, value-added agriculture and rural economic prosperity. We urge you to continue to fulfill your promises, to continue your support for all biofuels under the RFS and to continue to put America first," the governors write.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a request for additional comments on reducing previously finalized volumes required by the RFS program and on using waiver authorities to further reduce biodiesel volumes. The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) has serious concerns with EPA's recent actions and coordinated closely with these governors to communicate their concerns to the administration. Specifically, the latest proposed cuts to the RFS volumes threaten jobs in rural America, negatively affect the companies who have invested to comply with the law and undermine the energy security goals of the RFS program.

"NBB appreciates the principled stand these governors have taken. They are right to remind the president that millions of citizens from their states are ardent supporters of his, and he made explicit promises to farmers to protect biofuels investments and the Renewable Fuel Standard. President Trump knows that a strong, growing RFS is needed to uphold his promises and to stave off a recession in rural America," said Doug Whitehead, chief operating officer at the National Biodiesel Board.

In the letter, the governors called on EPA Administrator Pruitt to support the job creation and agricultural benefits that higher volumes of biofuels provide: "the proposed volumes ... could cause near-term job losses and discourage investment in capacity and new fuel development."

Led by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, three other governors signed onto the letter, including Dennis Daugaard of South Dakota, Eric Greitens of Missouri and Sam Brownback of Kansas.

Made from an increasingly diverse mix of resources such as recycled cooking oil, soybean oil and animal fats, biodiesel is a renewable, clean-burning diesel replacement that can be used in existing diesel engines without modification. It is the nation's first domestically produced, commercially available advanced biofuel. Biodiesel supports roughly 64,000 jobs across the United States.

The National Biodiesel Board is the U.S. trade association representing the biodiesel and renewable diesel industries, including producers, feedstock suppliers and fuel distributors.

Other South Dakota Headlines