Today in Biofuels Opinion: “EPA’s Johnson can see nothing wrong with this wild-eyed rush to turn half of the corn crop into car fuel”

Tom Philpott in Gristmill: “Yet the EPA’s Johnson can see nothing wrong with this wild-eyed rush to turn half of the corn crop into car fuel.  Here’s what he declared in a press release upholding the RFS: The RFS remains an important tool in our ongoing efforts to reduce America’s greenhouse gas emissions and lessen our dependence on foreign oil, in aggressive yet practical ways. Riiiiight. Of course, getting a ringing endorsement from Johnson on environmental grounds is like having Al Capone sign off on the legality of your gun-running operation. Guy’s got a bit of a credibility problem. Of course, no one really challenged the RFS on environmental grounds. Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) requested the RFS waiver on economic grounds — specifically, on grounds that higher corn prices are crimping the profits of industrial meat producers.”

The Kelso (WA) Daily News: “On Thursday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency flatly rejected Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s plea for some relief from the federal requirement that 9 billion gallons of ethanol and biodiesel be blended into gasoline between Sept. 1, 2008, and Aug. 31, 2009. Perry had asked in April that the EPA reduce the requirement to 4.5 billion gallons, claiming that the larger mandate was hurting Texas livestock producers and increasing food costs. Perry offered a compelling case for the relief. The diversion of a third of the nation’s corn crop to ethanol production has nearly tripled feed prices for Texas livestock and poultry farmers, leading to layoffs in the Texas meat industry. Food-to-fuel mandates clearly have not held down fuel prices and have show little potential in regard to reducing the nation’s dependence on foreign oil. Environmentally, these mandates are likely counterproductive.”

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