The Courier - Grassley Takes on Clinton Over Renewable Fuels

News Article

By Ed Tibbetts

A new report saying that Hillary Clinton's campaign has talked with California officials about how the Renewable Fuel Standard might be revamped is drawing criticism from a top Republican in Iowa.

The Clinton campaign said Wednesday, however, that while the RFS, which heavily utilizes corn-based ethanol, needs to be put "back on track," she does not support replacing it with what is called a low-carbon fuel standard.

Reuters on Wednesday reported that Clinton advisers have contacted the California Air Resources Board to discuss whether the state's market-based Low Carbon Fuel Standard could be applied at the national level to replace or augment the Renewable Fuel Standard. The article cited as a source officials with the state air resources board.

The report prompted a response Wednesday from U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, who called the RFS a "tremendous success" and warned against changes.

"A low carbon fuel standard, which exists in California, is an invention of those who belittle the carbon benefit of traditional corn ethanol, using a scientifically questionable rationale," Grassley said in a statement.

In a statement Wednesday afternoon, the Clinton campaign said it has engaged in a wide range of discussions but it is not supporting a California-like standard at the national level as a replacement for the RFS.

"As Hillary Clinton has said repeatedly during the primary, she is committed to getting the RFS back on track and making sure the U.S. remains a leader in advanced biofuels," the campaign said. "While we have engaged a wide range of stakeholders and experts throughout the campaign on biofuels and other issues, we do not support replacing the RFS with a national low-carbon fuel standard."

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