Dinneen blasts RFS Reform Bill: “Nothing undermines next generation innovation like uncertainty.”

In Washington, in response to the introduction of the RFS Reform Act, newly introduced legislation sponsored by Representatives Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Steve Womack (R-AR), and Peter Welch (D-VT), US biofuels leaders offered a widely disparate set of responses.

ABFA president Michael McAdams  said, “Rep. Goodlatte today introduced two bills, the first of which repeals the RFS — which ABFA will adamantly opposes.  And a second bill — which we are heartened by — recognizes the promise and importance of advanced and cellulosic biofuels.  This will continue to be an active and interesting discussion for many months to come.”

Tom Buis CEO of Growth Energy, said: “This bill does nothing to address the critical policy goal of achieving energy independence. Instead, it is a gift to special interest groups who are only concerned with only their record profits. “The RFS Reform Act is nothing more than a way for Big Oil to prevent market access of a superior, price competitive product, such as E15. These legislators are not seeking reform; they are looking to kill the RFS and all of the successes that have gone along with it.”

Bob Dinneen, RFA’s President and CEO said: “The motivation behind this bill is backwards, silly, circular logic. The authors insist they’re not anti-biofuels, but the bill guts the only program that has successfully opened the market to these new technologies, lowering our dependence on imported oil and reducing the consumer price of gasoline. The authors state they want a ‘free market’ for energy, but they do nothing to end the billions in subsidies to Big Oil and they deny market access to E15. The authors portend to retain the mandate for new cellulosic and advanced biofuels, but the bill handcuffs the commercialization of these fuels by removing the forward-looking, market-driving provisions of the original legislation.”
Dinneen added, “You can’t legitimately say ‘we support biofuels’ and then pull the rug out from underneath companies that relied upon government policy and are now building biorefineries that create hundreds of construction jobs at each location or are hitting milestones in new production. This legislation should have been introduced on Halloween because it will scare away investors.

American Coalition for Ethanol Executive Vice President Brian Jennings said: “Congressman Goodlatte (R-VA) and other House members introducing legislation to both repeal and ‘reform’ the RFS today are pandering to special interests who feel entitled to cheap corn and expensive oil forever. Based on the success of the RFS and by Congressman Goodlatte’s own admission, it is unlikely Congress would agree to an outright RFS repeal, but make no mistake, his so-called ‘reform’ legislation is equally misguided and clings to the past when our reliance on expensive oil hurt the pocketbooks of American families.

Grocery Manufacturers Association president and CEO Pamela G. Bailey, said, “Americans need responsible energy policy solutions that do not pit our nation’s energy needs against food security for millions of families. GMA applauds Reps. Goodlatte, Costa, Welch and Womack for taking an important step towards reforming the ill-conceived food-for-fuels policies that are driving up the cost of food for consumers when they can least afford it.”

Environmental Working Group Vice President for Government Affairs Scott Faber said: “The RFS Reform Act makes much-needed room in the fuel pool for advanced alternatives that actually lower greenhouse gas emissions and do not compete with our food needs. In doing so, it helps ensure a cleaner energy future that benefits both consumers and the environment.”

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