Washington, D.C. – Americans for Energy Security and Innovation (AESI) Co-Chairs Jim Talent and Rick Santorum urged continued growth in homegrown biofuels following the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) announcement of final Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) for 2018.
“The EPA’s biofuel targets preserve a vital market for homegrown fuels. The administration deserves credit for protecting U.S. energy investments and rejecting deeply flawed arguments from a few refinery owners looking to pad their pockets at the expense of rural jobs.
“Proposals to shift the Point of Obligation or create new categories of biofuel credits, exported or otherwise, were designed to undermine 12 years of investment, limit competition, and increase the cost of fuel. The administration was right to protect the Point of Obligation last week, and it was right to uphold the RFS today.
“But the EPA can do much more to realize the president’s vision for a strong and growing RFS that creates new economic opportunities across rural America and solidifies U.S. energy security. We cannot sacrifice this opportunity to accelerate growth, particularly on cellulosic biofuels.
“These fuels promise to drive the next great wave of rural manufacturing, supplying a new revenue stream to hard-pressed farmers, while turning cobs, stalks, and other agricultural leftovers into high-value energy. Achieving this goal will create thousands of U.S. jobs and provide a vital shield against price manipulation by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and Russia.
“The EPA should act quickly to accelerate growth in advanced biofuels and fulfill the hopes of millions of rural voters who rallied around the president’s campaign. Administrator Pruitt could take a meaningful step in the right direction by acting quickly on his promise to lift needless regulatory barriers on the summer sales of higher ethanol blends like E15. Outdated Reid Vapor Pressure limits are a burden on small retailers and limit a growth market for lower-priced options at the pump.”