Senator Chuck Grassley stands up for RFS at biodiesel event

In Iowa, two weeks after calling EPA’s notice announcing potential cuts to biodiesel volumes under the Renewable Fuel Standard a ‘bait-and-switch’ tactic, Senator Chuck Grassley spoke directly Tuesday with those the proposal would harm.  At Renewable Energy Group’s Newton, Iowa biorefinery, the message from Grassley and the industry was clear—the President should keep his promise and not just protect, but grow biodiesel volumes.

Grassley was joined by biodiesel producers, soybean and corn farmers and other industries supported by biodiesel to discuss the notice from EPA seeking comments on reducing minimum volumes for biomass-based diesel for 2018 that were finalized almost a year ago, as well as further reductions to the proposed 2019 volumes.  The reductions are being sought by petroleum refiners despite growing global demand for diesel and the proven ability by U.S. biodiesel producers to meet growing RFS targets.

“This proposal would drastically undermine biodiesel production,” Grassley said.  “It’s contrary to the statements made by then-candidate Trump and President Trump. It’s not consistent with what EPA Administrator Pruitt told me in January when I spoke to him in my office prior to his confirmation.”