Davis calls on Biden to uphold Renewable Fuel Standard

U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL) and 21 fellow Republicans urged President Joe Biden to uphold the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

“We are deeply disappointed by the rumors that indicate your administration is reversing course on its promises as it relates to upholding the RFS,” the lawmakers wrote in a Sept. 22 letter sent to Biden. “If these rumors are correct, demand for over 5 billion gallons of renewable, clean fuels will be lost.”

Rep. Davis and his colleagues noted that if the Biden administration reopens the finalized 2020 Renewable Volumes Obligation (RVO), it could strip the demand for billions of gallons and “the industry will certainly be devastated,” according to their letter.

Because biofuels production is a major piece of the rural economy in their districts, Rep. Davis and the lawmakers urged Biden to direct the Environmental Protection Agency to reconsider the rule to ensure that the administration adheres to its promises to usher in a new era of biofuels.

“Both oil refiners and ethanol refiners were hurt by decreased demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” wrote Rep. Davis and his colleagues. “While we hope that markets will continue to rebound, it is now more important than ever to uphold the law and ensure our domestic biofuels producers have certainty through fulfilling the statutory obligation of 15 billion gallons of conventional ethanol, annually, along with a strong overall RVO.”

Among the members who joined Rep. Davis in signing the letter are U.S. Reps. Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Darin LaHood (R-IL), Tom Emmer (R-MN), Ann Wagner (R-MO), Ron Estes (R-KS), Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), Sam Graves (R-MO), Don Bacon (R-NE), and Mike Bost (R-IL).