Udall, Heinrich, Lujan Call On EPA To Support Biodiesel, Save Jobs
Press Release
Udall, Heinrich, Lujan Call on EPA To Support Biodiesel, Save Jobs
U.S. Senator Tom Udall and U.S. Representatives Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján are asking Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson to act now "to protect the 29,000 jobs biodiesel provides and preserve the future benefits of this renewable fuel."
In a letter to Jackson, the New Mexico lawmakers cite recent reports that show, "the U.S. biodiesel industry is in a state of crisis," but say this trend could be reversed today if the EPA implements an interim rule that would protect the biodiesel industry and its employees by providing market certainty for 2009.
In 2007, Congress passed and the president signed legislation requiring the EPA to quickly produce rules that would require oil companies to purchase one billion gallons of biodiesel as part of the existing Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Contrary to the clear intent of Congress, the previous EPA Administrator failed to act, leading to the current industry crisis.
"Congress passed, and the President signed, the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) in part to ensure a reliable market for biodiesel of one billion gallons in the renewable fuel standard (RFS)," they wrote. "Unfortunately, the prior EPA Administration failed to issue the updated RFS rules, despite the fact that Congress required them to do so no later than December 19, 2008 under Sec. 202(a)(1) of EISA."
Under Administrator Jackson, the EPA has written draft rules encouraging biofuels, but they are not expected to go into effect until 2010 due to their scope and complexity. In their letter, Udall, Heinrich and Luján asked Administrator Jackson to enact an interim rule that would provide the biodiesel industry and its employees with a certain market for their product in the interim period until a final rule goes into effect.
"Biodiesel is a proven technology, with a developed capacity, and the potential to grow and create jobs in the United States in fuel production and in agriculture. EPA should consider all responsible options to save these jobs, and we urge effective action as quickly as possible," they said.
Source