US Representatives introduce legislation to reform RFS

In Washington, Reps. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Steve Womack (R-AR), and Peter Welch (D-VT) released the following statement regarding the introduction of the RFS Reform Act in the U.S. House of Representatives:

“The RFS debate is no longer just a debate about fuel or food.  It is also a debate about jobs, small business, and economic growth.  The federal government’s creation of an artificial market for the ethanol industry has quite frankly triggered a domino effect that is hurting American consumers, energy producers, livestock producers, food manufacturers, and retailers.  The broad coalition of organizations supporting this legislation echo the same sentiment: the RFS is not working.”

“The RFS Reform Act will eliminate corn-based ethanol requirements, cap the amount of ethanol that can be blended into conventional gasoline at 10 percent, and require the EPA to set cellulosic biofuels levels at production levels.  Renewable fuels play an important role in our energy policy but should compete fairly in the marketplace.  This legislation will bring the fundamental reform this unworkable federal policy needs now.”

Congressman Costa added, “The debate is over; the Renewable Fuel Standard as we know it is not sustainable. I have heard just this week from Foster Farms, poultry producers in my district, that their price of doing business has jumped by over $250 million annually in the last 5 years because of skyrocketing corn prices. Putting food into our fuel tanks is hurting dairymen and women, livestock producers, consumers, and businesses across the nation. We can’t afford this. It’s time for real, wholesale change.”