Fischer Statement on Final RFS Volumes for 2020

Statement

U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, released the following statement today after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the final rule establishing Renewable Volume Obligations for 2020 and the biomass-based diesel volume for 2021 under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS):

"I appreciate the Nebraskans--including our farmers and ethanol producers-- who made their voices heard and submitted comments to EPA. Like many of them, I am disappointed in this announcement because it differs from the commitment made to my colleagues and me this fall that the 15 billion gallon obligation would be met using a 3-year rolling average of actual waived gallons. Instead, the EPA has chosen to use their own discretion and the Department of Energy's recommendations when determining waived gallons, despite their track record of disregarding these recommendations.

"While the final rule is still an improvement over the previous one, I am, and I know Nebraskans are, wary that the EPA will follow the law and meet these obligations like they say they will. President Trump cares about farmers and has made big promises to rural America. I will continue to work to make sure those promises are fulfilled."

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In October, the EPA announced an RFS deal. As part of the deal, the agency said it would begin to account for projected numbers of gallons exempted when setting new Renewable Volume Obligations for refiners starting in 2020.

In November, Senator Fischer submitted a letter to EPA Administrator Wheeler expressing concern about the way the agency plans to calculate the reallocation of biofuel gallons lost due to exemptions for oil refineries.

Senator Fischer has long advocated for bringing more transparency to the exemption process. Earlier this year, she introduced the bipartisan RFS Integrity Act with Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.). The legislation would ensure the EPA properly accounts for exempted gallons and ensures that key information surrounding small refinery exemptions is made publicly available.

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