Cardin: Congress Must Fix the Renewable Fuel Standard

Statement

U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, issues the following statement in response to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announcement that "it will not be finalizing 2014 applicable percentage standards under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program before the end of 2014":

"The EPA continues to be faced with having to administer what amounts to an unworkable statute when it comes to Renewable Fuel Standard. Without a doubt, many lawmakers and stakeholders will not be happy with EPA's announcement that it will not be finalizing the 2014 RVO. In reality, Congress has left EPA in a difficult position to make sense out of an unworkable process. I commend the hardworking career employees at EPA who have toiled tirelessly with stakeholders in an attempt to formulate a reasonable revision to the RVO for 2014, but ultimately a workable rule could not be had. This incredible challenge is only going to get worse over time. While I applaud EPA's recognition that it should attempt to finalize RVO rules for multiple sequential years, the real answer is for Congress to act by reforming and fixing this important statute. I will continue finalize an RFS reform bill that should be considered in the next Congress. I am committed to work with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get this done."

Source