WASHINGTON - Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today released the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its final Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) rule, which sets renewable fuel volumes for 2017.
Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas): “The EPA’s final RFS rule doubles down on the proposed rule, breaks the blend wall, and sets biofuels requirements that are not achievable in today’s energy market. More unrealistic mandates won’t benefit the environment or lead to innovation in biofuels technology. Regular Americans will pay the price with increased costs on everything from the gas they put in their cars to their Thanksgiving turkey. The next administration must work with Congress to reform this mandate.”
The proposed rule requires 19.28 billion gallons of renewable fuels be blended into the fuel supply by 2017, an increase from the EPA’s 2016 rule and the proposed 2017 rule. The final rule increases biofuel volumes in every category and meets the statutory cap of 15 billion gallons for conventional biofuels, despite evidence that the U.S. is not currently on track to meet 2016 targets.
The Science Committee has held two hearings on the RFS in the 114th Congress. Witnesses testified that the RFS increases fuel costs, food costs, and emissions.
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