Heitkamp Statement on Final Renewable Fuel Standard

Press Release

U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today issued the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its final renewable volume obligations (RVOs) for biofuels under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). EPA is required by law to set fuel blending levels annually so biodiesel and ethanol producers can plan for the future, but the agency had failed to do so for years.

"After years of delays, the EPA has finally lived up to its obligation to set biofuels blend levels and give producers and biofuels workers the certainty they need to go to work," said Heitkamp. "This rule still doesn't give us the ambitious targets we need or that Congress intended, but at least there is some progress as -- after I pressed EPA to set bolder targets -- the agency increased its targets from those proposed in May. Unfortunately, these levels still fall far short of what Congress set out. They're below what we need to guarantee the thriving biofuels industry that North Dakota famers and workers deserve, and that would support energy from a clean, reliable fuel. Biofuels are just one component of the all-of-the-above energy strategy we pursue in North Dakota. But if EPA doesn't get serious about encouraging biofuels -- as the law requires -- the agency's inaction and unambitious targets will hamper North Dakota job growth and reduce energy security."

Source