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Biofuels supporters concerned about Biden’s RFS support

Biofuels supporters remain opposed to President Biden considering relief for oil refiners from biofuel blending requirements.  Jonathan Gibbs with the Wisconsin Soybean Board tells Brownfield Biden’s planned Tuesday visit in Wisconsin would be a good opportunity for the President to show farmers he still supports them. “They’re kind of pushing President Biden to reverse his support that he gave on the campaign trail, and after being inaugurated, reverse his support for our farmer-friendly and environmentally-friendly biofuels, and as the President comes to the state here on Tuesday, we’d sure like him to reaffirm his support.”

Biden is reportedly getting pressure from lawmakers and labor unions to help the oil industry.  Gibbs says if the White House bows to oil refiners and slashes U.S. biofuel targets, it would be a blow to corn and soybean farmers. “We’ve got a number of ethanol plants and a couple of biodiesel plants in the state, and we would really just like to hear his support for those, for that RFS, and the biofuels.”

Gibbs says based on recent news reports, it is hard to tell if the President plans to keep his campaign promises to support biofuels and the Renewable Fuels Standard.  He is also concerned the Biden EPA might still grant Small Refinery Exemptions and not fully enforce the RFS.

President Biden is reportedly making an appearance in western Wisconsin Tuesday but as of Monday afternoon, the White House has not released the details.