Illinois’ ag director calls on EPA to boost RFS for ethanol

July 6, 2015 |

In Illinois, the state’s agriculture director Philip Nelson is calling on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) to reconsider the proposed Renewable Fuel Standards (RFS) volume obligations that were laid out earlier this spring.  This action comes as several partner states, such as Iowa and Missouri, testified recently in opposition of the proposal at the USEPA hearing on RFS.

“This proposal is in direct violation of the 2007 law (Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007) on the Renewable Fuel Standards, which mandates corn-based ethanol blends at 15 billion gallons for 2015 and 2016,” said Agriculture Director Philip Nelson.  “It is fundamentally unfair to suddenly change the rules on Illinois farmers.”

“This announcement comes at the heels of a drop in corn prices and projected farm income,” said Nelson.  “Farmers are locked into their planting decisions for the year and these proposed rules have real implications on the industry.”

Category: Policy

Thank you for visting the Digest.