Cedar Rapids Today

Congresswomen Ashley Hinson (IA-02) and Angie Craig (MN-02) have led 35 House lawmakers in a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan, urging the agency to raise Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) volumes for advanced biofuels. The call aims to reflect increased production and availability.

"The EPA continues to undermine the RFS, going back on promises from President Biden to support biofuels producers, and inflicting significant damage to the biofuels industry. I will continue calling on the EPA to increase blending requirements and expand the use of biofuels to support domestic energy production and our rural economy," stated Congresswoman Ashley Hinson.

The letter is part of ongoing efforts by Hinson to advocate for higher biofuel volumes. In 2023, Representatives Hinson and Craig spearheaded a bipartisan letter urging the EPA to increase volumes for biomass-based diesel and advanced biofuels. Although the EPA provided a minor increase, it did not fully account for existing production capacity.

According to the Energy Information Administration, the volumes set by EPA for 2023-2025 were "significantly lower than production trends." This discrepancy resulted in prices dropping by over 70% and led to several Midwestern biofuel plants shutting down, including facilities in Ralston, Iowa, and Madison, Wisconsin.