Today, Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) applauded the Biden Administration for its ongoing commitment to supporting Iowa’s biofuels industry after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the final rule to set Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) blending levels back on track and end the abuse of Small Refinery Exemptions.
“I am thankful President Biden understands the important role the biofuels industry plays in supporting Iowa farmers and rural communities while reducing the price at the pump for consumers,” said Rep. Axne. “After the previous administration abused Small Refinery Exemptions – resulting in the loss of over 4 billion gallons of ethanol – and ignored the law by not releasing a 2021 level, this final rule will set the RFS back on track with a robust 2022 level and provide certainty for Iowa farmers.”
Secretary Vilsack also announced today that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded $700 million in Biofuel Producer Relief Program payments to producers who suffered market loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Rep. Axne worked to secure this aid in the CARES Act and urged then-Secretary Perdue to assist biofuel producers in April of 2020.
Rep. Axne, as a co-chair of the House Biofuels Caucus, has been a consistent leader in supporting Iowa farmers and biofuels producers. In April, President Biden joined Rep. Axne in Menlo, Iowa to announce action to allow the sale of E15 this summer. This announcement followed shortly after Rep. Axne led her colleagues in urging President Biden to take such action.
Original source can be found here.
