heitkamp2WASHINGTON, D.C.  (CSi) – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today met with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy to voice concern about the Obama Administration’s proposal to reduce the effectiveness of the Renewable Fuel Standard. Heitkamp believes the proposal, which would reduce the required amount of biofuels produced in the U.S., will have a devastating impact on North Dakota’s farmers, damage the state’s vibrant ethanol industry, and hurt our ability to become North American energy independent.

Earlier today, Heitkamp also sent a letter to Administrator McCarthy, laying out in detail the case for keeping in place the yearly biofuel production targets that were set in the bipartisan Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.
“At a time when we are rapidly increasing our production of North American energy resources, now is not the time to limit our ability to produce a home-grown renewable fuel like ethanol,” said Heitkamp. “In North Dakota, we see firsthand how biofuels help support our economy, create well-paying jobs, support rural communities, and provide cleaner energy. While meeting with Administrator McCarthy today, I made very clear my opposition to the Administration’s proposal to limit biofuels production, and strongly defended the success of North Dakota’s corn-based ethanol industry.”  

Heitkamp believes the Renewable Fuel Standard and the support of biofuels are key parts of our energy policy mix to help us become North American energy independent. Heitkamp wants the U.S. to follow North Dakota’s lead and adopt an all-of-the-above energy approach to reduce our dependence on energy from volatile parts of the world, like the Middle East and South America.

The Energy Independence and Security Act set yearly targets to meet the goal of producing 32 billion gallons of renewable fuel by 2022. While the EPA has the authority to waive targets in a very limited set of circumstances, and must meet a high threshold to do so, the decision for the agency to use it now is perplexing and does not appear to meet any of the scenarios that would enable them to make this adjustment. The industry has continually met biofuel volume requirements in recent years.

Since the implementation of the original Renewable Fuel Standard in 2005, thousands of jobs have been created nationwide and the addition of a homegrown, renewable fuel has helped lower gas prices. In North Dakota, 10,000 jobs are supported by the industry and millions of dollars are pumped into the rural communities where the plants are located. Moreover, the industry has opened a new market for the state’s hardworking farmers.