An EPA hearing in Kansas City on an agency proposal to relax the biofuel mandate for 2015 and 2016 “turned into somewhat of a pro-ethanol hearing and rally with the vast majority of those who testified telling EPA not to mess with the RFS,” reports DTN. The biofuels mandate is formally named the Renewable Fuels Standard, or RFS. Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon said the EPA abused its discretion by proposing lower targets than set by law, and Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad called on EPA to use the targets written into the 2007 energy law. That would require an additional 3.75 billion gallons of biofuels, mostly corn-based ethanol, through 2016.
“Without a robust biofuel mandate, you will restrain the growth of this rural economy,” said Branstad.
“Branstad’s comments reflected some of the concerns from farmers and others who see the EPA’s plan to dial back the RFS volumes as a threat to the agricultural economy,” said DTN.