Democratic legislators express concern about possibly easing “burden” on oil refiners

June 17, 2021 |

In Washington, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) led a letter with 15 bicameral colleagues – including Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) – to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and National Economic Council (NEC) expressing concern about reports that the Biden administration is considering several options to exempt oil refiners of their obligations under the Clean Air Act’s Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The legislators noted that these proposals “all unjustifiably waive Clean Air Act compliance requirements for a small group of refiners that the EPA has repeatedly determined are not negatively impacted by the RFS.” They proceed to recognize the consequence of such actions, writing, “Exempting refiners of their obligations to blend biofuel would mean increased reliance on oil and more carbon emissions – a result this country cannot afford if we are to meet our new commitment under the Paris Agreement to reduce emissions by 50 – 52 percent by 2030.”

“Rather than exempting refiners of their obligations under the Clean Air Act, the Administration should provide additional certainty and stability to the renewable fuels marketplace that will create jobs, drive investment, and cut carbon emissions from the existing vehicle fleet. We encourage your Administration to swiftly issue a proposed rule for the 2021 and 2022 Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) with strong blending targets and respond to the 2017 Court remand in Americans for Clean Energy, et al., v. Environmental Protection Agency to reinstate 500 million gallons of blending requirements inappropriately waived from the 2016 blending targets,” the legislators wrote.

The letter was signed by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Tina Smith (D-MN), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Representatives Cheri Bustos (D-IL), Cindy Axne (D-IA), Angie Craig (D-MN)  Mark Pocan (D-WI), Ron Kind (D-WI), David Scott (D-GA), Lauren Underwood (D-IL), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ).

Category: Policy

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