Seventeen Republican Senators ask EPA to waive or cut blending mandates

In Washington, U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) and 16 of his colleagues sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan urging the EPA to mitigate the harm imposed on consumers and refiners by the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS)’s unachievable mandates.

In their letter, the Senators requested that the EPA waive or significantly reduce the volume requirements for 2020, and set the upcoming 2021 and 2022 renewable fuel obligations at levels that reflect reality.

“Obligated parties subject to the onerous requirements of the RFS have been facing historically high compliance costs, which threaten the viability of these entities’ continued operations,” the senators wrote. “In light of COVID-19’s impact on the demand for refined product and the burden of RFS compliance, we urge you to waive or significantly reduce the renewable volume obligation (RVO) for compliance year 2020, and set the 2021 and 2022 RVOs at levels that comport with reality.” 

The senators continued: “We urge EPA to take action to reduce RFS compliance costs in order to avert additional financial hardship for consumers and protect the continued viability of U.S. refineries.”

In addition to Senator Toomey, this letter is also signed by Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), John Kennedy (R-La.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).