WASHINGTON, DC– U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) today issued the following statement upon the Administration’s release of the final RFS rule that sets biofuels Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) for 2014, 2015 and 2016, and sets the RVO for biodiesel for 2017.
“The Renewable Fuel Standard has helped create American jobs, drive innovation, and boost local economies across Minnesota and the country, all while reducing carbon emissions. That is why after a very disappointing proposed rule was put forth, I led bipartisan efforts to improve the final rule. While we have clearly made some progress in strengthening the rule, it still falls short, which is why I’ll continue to call on the Administration to promote biofuels to the extent that Congress intended in the law. I’ll also continue my work in the Senate to create policies that generate economic gains across rural Minnesota, including the Farm Bill energy programs I helped put in place that are supporting critical biofuels research, innovative projects, and infrastructure development.”
Klobuchar has been a national leader in advocating for the expansion of renewable fuels. Last month, Klobuchar convened a meeting in her office between 13 of her colleagues and White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough to push for the release of a strong final Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) rule that supports homegrown ethanol production. This meeting followed a bipartisan meeting of 16 senators that Klobuchar convened in December of 2013 with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy to call for changes to the proposed RFS 2014 rule. The senators have also sent multiple letters to McCarthy to urge changes to the administration’s proposed 2014 RFS rule and call for an increase in the proposed volumes that the EPA has set for biodiesel production in future years. As a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee and 2014 farm bill conferee, Klobuchar supported authorization of biofuels programs, and this year advocated for the Biofuels Infrastructure Partnership (BIP) with USDA on the State of Minnesota’s behalf.
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