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For Immediate Release: Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018
MEMORANDUM
To:
Iowa Reporters and Editors
Fr:
Mike Naig, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture
Re:
Naig comments on proposed RFS levels
Iowa
Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today submitted comments to the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the proposed Renewable Fuel Standard
(RFS) levels for conventional, advanced and cellulosic biofuels for 2019 and
biodiesel for 2020. The comment period on the proposed levels runs through Aug.
17, 2018.
“A strong RFS that follows the
law is critically important to ensuring market access for ethanol and biodiesel
and to giving consumers additional fuel choices at the pump. I will reiterate to
acting Administrator Wheeler when he visits Iowa next week the need to support
the RFS, allow year-round sale of E15 and end the small-refinery waivers that
have cut ethanol demand by 1.5 billion gallons over the past two years.”
Naig’s
full comments follow here:
Acting
Administrator Andrew R. Wheeler
Office
of the Administrator
Environmental
Protection Agency
1200
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington,
DC 20004
RE:
Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2018-0167
Dear
Administrator Wheeler:
On behalf of the Iowa agriculture
industry I appreciate the opportunity to comment on the proposed Renewable Fuel
Standard levels for conventional, advanced and cellulosic biofuels for 2019 and
biodiesel for 2020.
Iowa’s economy is based on
agriculture. We are a national leader in the production of corn, soybeans,
ethanol and biodiesel. Our farmers, communities and state rely on consistent
and expanding markets for the products that we grow so well. As a result, I
urge you to maintain or increase the Renewable Fuels Standard levels in 2019
and beyond in the proposed rule.
Our
renewable fuels industry has the capacity to annually produce 4.4 billion
gallons of ethanol, including 55 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol and 400
million gallons of biodiesel. This production requires more than one billion
bushels of corn. This industry supports nearly 47,000 Iowa jobs and is
responsible for $5 billion of Iowa’s GDP.
The
Renewable Fuel Standard has been a resounding win for the state of Iowa and the
nation, resulting in greater energy independence, cleaner air and stronger rural
and urban communities. Moreover, it benefits consumers who want more affordable
fuel choices that give us a cleaner environment. We must protect
the RFS. It is critically important
that EPA uphold the renewable volume obligation levels intended by Congress and
supported by President Trump.
With the ongoing trade
uncertainty and more than 5 years of declining farm income, our farmers and
communities need a strong RFS and an end to the recent demand destruction for
corn and renewable fuels due to numerous small-refinery waivers. Moreover, the EPA
is long overdue to lift the restriction on the year round sale of E15 and
higher ethanol blends. We must have consistent, fair and open markets for our
products.
While the proposed RFS rule
appears positive by increasing levels of biofuels and biodiesel, our producers
need the EPA to uphold its commitment to these levels. The small-refinery
waivers have already cut ethanol demand by more than 1.5 billion gallons. We
simply cannot afford for this to continue. This is not within the letter or
spirit of the RFS.
The final rule should follow
Congressional intent and work for our producers, not against them.
It is a challenging time in the
Iowa agriculture industry and it is critically important we continue to have a
robust RFS to ensure we have a strong renewable fuels industry. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to
comment.
Sincerely,
Mike Naig
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture
-30-
For more information, contact Dustin Vande Hoef, (515) 281-3375 or (515) 326-1616 (cell) or Dustin.VandeHoef@IowaAgriculture.gov
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