Johnson: Big Win for Renewable Fuels as Administration Denies Waiver Requests

Press Release

U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) today applauded the Administration's decision to deny requests to waive the Renewable Fuel Standard. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency did not find evidence that the Renewable Fuel Standard, which Johnson helped write, is causing economic harm, as proponents of the waiver have claimed.

"Once again, the Renewable Fuel Standard has been validated," said Johnson. "The EPA, along with USDA and the Department of Energy, conducted a thorough analysis and found that waiving the RFS would have very little impact, if any, in alleviating the very real challenges of the drought. I am pleased that the facts won the day. Today's news is a big win for South Dakota's renewable fuels industry, which is a boon for our economy and plays a major role in reducing our dependence on foreign oil."

As a member of the Senate Energy committee Johnson has played a key role in expanding the production and use of biofuels. Johnson helped craft the first nationwide Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) in the 2005 Energy Bill and worked to significantly expand RFS targets in the Energy Security and Independence Act of 2007.

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