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House Lawmakers: 2018 RFS Levels More of the Same

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Reps. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Steve Womack (R-Ark.), and Jim Costa (D-Calif.) released the following statement on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) finalized rule establishing renewable fuel volumes under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for 2018: 

“The RFS has run out of gas, but that hasn’t stopped the EPA from once again acting to prop up the ethanol industry. The 2018 volumes announced today are more of the same, as another 15 billion gallons of corn ethanol will be added to our nation’s fuel supply next year. Who will bear the brunt of the ethanol mandate? American consumers, food producers, livestock farmers, vehicles, small engines, and even the environment stand to experience the harmful impacts of more ethanol forced into the market. These numbers underscore exactly why Congress must act. Our bill, the RFS Reform Act, is an absolute fix that can begin the needed process of decreasing the burdensome effects of the ethanol mandate. Reforming the RFS remains a major priority, and we will continue working to see a legislative solution move forward through Congress.”

Earlier this year, Goodlatte, Welch, Womack, and Costa re-introduced the RFS Reform Act (H.R. 1315), which eliminates corn-based ethanol requirements, caps the amount of ethanol that can be blended into conventional gasoline at 10 percent, and requires the EPA to set cellulosic biofuels levels at production levels.  

 

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