Durbin, Quinn, Branstad Discuss Illinois Impact of EPA

Press Release

Following individual phone conversations today with Illinois Governor Pat Quinn and Iowa Governor Terry Branstad regarding the importance of the biofuels and ethanol industry to Illinois jobs and the economy, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today reiterated his strong opposition to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) current proposal reduce the renewable volume obligations (RVOs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Quinn recently took over chairmanship of the National Governor's Biofuels Coalition.

"In the twelve years since Congress created the Renewable Fuels Standard, we have seen a measurable decrease in both crude oil imports and emissions from cars and trucks. The fact is the Renewable Fuels Standard is working, and we need look no further than Illinois to see its benefits, which include 5,400 jobs supported by our biofuels industry."

In December, Durbin joined a bipartisan group of Senators in a meeting on Capitol Hill with EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy to protest the agency's RFS proposal. Earlier in the month, Durbin also hosted a conference call with members of Illinois' agriculture community and biofuels industry -- including Illinois Corn Growers, Illinois Soybean Association, Illinois Farm Bureau, National Corn to Ethanol Research Center, and Illinois biofuels producers -- to discuss the potential impact of the RFS proposal.

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