As rumors swirl on RFS, Branstad, Reynolds and Northey call for action to protect jobs, increase consumer choice
DES MOINES – Gov. Terry Branstad, Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today renewed their call for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to restore a robust Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and abandon their proposed rule that would cost Iowans jobs, decrease consumer choice at the pump and increase our nation’s dependency on foreign oil.
According to an Associated Press report, Sen. Al Fraken (D-Minn.) said after meeting with White House officials that he believes the EPA will only partially restore the RFS volume obligation levels for 2014.
“While we’re encouraged to see the potential for movement from the Obama Administration, we believe they need to act right away to fully restore a robust Renewable Fuel Standard. Because of the uncertainty at the federal level, corn is now selling below the cost of production,” said Branstad. “State and federal officials have worked in a bipartisan manner on this critically important issue. I’m hopeful the Environmental Protection Agency will act to protect Iowa jobs, rural development and Iowa agriculture.”
“Now is not the time to retreat from a robust Renewable Fuel Standard that increases consumer choice, creates jobs, encourages economic growth and reduces our dependency on foreign oil,” said Reynolds. “The people of Iowa and America have spoken clearly, protect the RFS and abandon the ill-advised Environmental Protection Agency proposal today.”
“A strong RFS is vitally important to ensure Iowa customers have access to domestically produced, clean burning ethanol and biodiesel. The law is working as intended and it is wrong for the EPA to act against congressional intent. I hope the Obama administration will listen to the thousands of comments supporting access to renewable fuels and fully restore the RFS,” Northey said.
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