WASHINGTON, Feb. 16, 2017 - During a campaign stop in Iowa last year, then GOP candidate Donald Trump made it very clear that he supported the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). But as president, a number of his key advisors and cabinet members have strong ties to the oil industry. And that has some RFS supporters worried.
On Tuesday, Congressional Biofuels Caucus Co-chairs Rep. Collin Peterson, D-MN, Rep. Rodney Davis, R-IL, Rep. Kristi Noem, R-SD, and Rep. Dave Loebsack, D-Iowa, led Members of Congress in a bipartisan letter to the Trump Administration, reminding him about the importance of a strong RFS.
"I am pleased with the bipartisan support for this letter and will continue to fight for a robust Renewable Fuel Standard in the years to come,” noted Rep. Collin Peterson, D-MN.
"With advances in technology, we are growing more on fewer acres and using that efficiency to diversify the market," Noem said. "Through the RFS, we can make sure American-grown fuels have a place in our energy supply and give farmers and ranchers the opportunity to contribute to greater energy independence."
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In their letter to President Trump, the lawmakers emphasized the economic benefits of the RFS saying, "In 2015 alone, the RFS is directly responsible for creating nearly 86,000 jobs ranging from farms to equipment manufacturers to ethanol production facilities." The letter encourages the administration to create certainty in the market by continuing its commitment to the RFS.
“In 2015, the RFS added $44 billion in economic activity. This is felt throughout greater America as farmers produce larger harvests to meet fuel demand. In turn, equipment manufacturers produce more efficient farm machinery, and truckers are relied on to move products. Engineers at ethanol and biodiesel facilities across the nation produce the most cost-effective biofuels in the world, lowering gas prices for all Americans and bringing high-paying jobs to rural areas,” the letter noted.
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