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News
Grassley Q&A: Renewable Fuels Standard
Posted 12 August 2008
Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley
responds to the Renewable Fuels Standard in this Q & A.
Q: What is the renewable fuels standard?
A: In 2005 Congress passed legislation that required that 7.5 billion
gallons of ethanol be used annually in the United States by the year
2012. Congress then expanded the mandate in 2007 to make it even more
robust by requiring 36 billion gallons of renewable fuels be used
annually by the year 2022, of which 21 billion gallons must be from
advanced biofuels. The renewable fuels standard has helped dramatically
expand the use of renewable energy and drive the production and
development of all biofuels. When we promote renewable fuels, we are
increasing our national security, helping our balance of trade and
reducing our dependence on Middle East oil and the whims of Big Oil.
Q: Why was the Environmental Protection Agency considering a reduction
in the renewable fuels standard?
A: Many people and organizations have used ethanol and other renewable
fuels as a scapegoat for rising prices of food and fuel. In April,
Texas Governor Rick Perry asked Environmental Protection Agency
Administrator Stephen Johnson to cut in half the renewable fuels
standard. I wrote Administrator Johnson along with several of my Senate
colleagues urging that the renewable fuel standard not be reduced. The
arguments used in the crusade to discount ethanol are intellectually
dishonest and economically un-factual. The fact is that if it was not
for ethanol, gas and food prices would be even higher.
Q: Will we still be using ethanol?
A: The Environmental Protection Agency denied Governor Perry’s request
to reduce the renewable fuels standard. The Environmental Protection
Agency realized that the facts clearly stood in ethanol’s corner.
Through their ruling, the Environmental Protection Agency will allow
farmers to continue to plan for and meet the fuel, food, feed and fiber
needs of the future. In order to fight higher energy prices, we need a
three-pronged approach that includes renewable fuels. We need to
increase the supply of traditional energy, continue to promote
renewable energy and we need to make efforts to conserve energy.
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