News
RFS reform bill introduced in the House
Representative Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) introduced H.R. 704: The RFS Reform Act of 2015 on Wednesday. The bill would eliminate the corn-based ethanol requirement, caps the amount of ethanol that can be blended into conventional gasoline at 10 percent, and requires the EPA to set cellulosic biofuels levels at production levels. Goodlatte says, “With the EPA’s continued failure to meet their deadlines, it’s clear that the majorly flawed RFS just isn’t working.” The bill is cosponsored by Peter Welch (D-VT), Steve Womak (R-AK) and Jim Costa (D-CA) and claims at least 34 cosigners and the support of more than 50 organizations. Read more from Representatives Goodlatte, Womak, Welch and Costa here:
As with the RFS, agricultural groups are split on the bill:
National Corn Growers Association president Chip Bowling says Goodlatte and his colleagues have put Big Oil ahead of America’s farmers; “This legislation would be a huge step backward – for America’s energy independence, for consumer choice at the pump, for the rural economy, and for the environment. We should be investing in America’s farmers, not undercutting them in favor of Big Oil.”
National Farmers Union President Rodger Johnson expressed his objection to the bill stating: “The elimination of the corn-based ethanol mandate and blend cap will gut the nation’s biofuel production, strand existing investment in second generation biofuel production and hurt family farmers, ranchers and rural communities that have experienced much-needed reinvestment from this policy. This is not only a bad step for agriculture, but also is a major setback to the environment and our nation’s attempts to manage its carbon emissions. We urge Congress to reject this policy and continue to embrace the vision of a robust renewable fuels industry as a component of this nation’s overall energy portfolio.”
Chase Adams with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association says his organization “supports both reform and repeal of the RFS. We believe that all users of corn should compete on a level playing field.”
National Chicken Council president Mike Brown praised the legislation saying the RFS mandates the use of corn for ethanol regardless of what it costs and regardless of who gets hurt. “The American public has been sold on the need for the RFS in order to gain American energy independence. The U.S. ethanol industry exported more than 800 million gallons of ethanol in 2014. How does that fit in to American energy security? If U.S. ethanol can be competitive in the global export market, why does it need the protection of the RFS in the domestic market?”
To rep Goodlatte .and NCBA Nothing like starting a farm depression to satisfy chinese Smithfield and Corporate Cattle feeding and Big Oil .Shame on all of you/