Branstad to participate in "Defend the Renewable Fuel Standard" event on Friday

Statement

The Iowa RFS Coalition will host a "Defend the RFS" event at Lincolnway Energy to highlight the negative impact of EPA's proposal to radically reduce Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) levels for 2014. Iowa consumers, farmers and renewable fuels producers will be harmed if the proposal moves forward. Iowans will be urged to demand the EPA modify the proposal to uphold the letter and spirit of the bipartisan RFS law.

"Why the Obama administration would side with the big oil companies over Iowa's homegrown renewable fuels is baffling," said Iowa Governor Terry Branstad. "The EPA has turned its back on rural America, and our economy and family farms will suffer as a result. Corn prices have already dropped to the cost of production, and this will likely further squeeze corn producers and negatively impact income growth in rural America. We have more than 50 ethanol and biodiesel plants in Iowa, and these EPA reductions would negatively impact thousands of Iowa jobs. This debate isn't over. I will lock arms with our agricultural groups, our family farmers, leaders from both parties, and Iowans in fighting for Iowa's homegrown, reliable, and safe renewable fuels. I encourage Iowans to officially comment to the EPA."

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