Statement by Bob Stallman, President, American Farm Bureau Federation, Regarding the Renewable Fuel Standard

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 29, 2015 – “Congress was clear in its intent: The United States can and should produce significantly more ethanol for the nation’s cars and trucks than the EPA has proposed. The Renewable Fuel Standard has produced jobs, decreased reliance on imported oil and contributed to cleaner air. For those reasons, we need more ethanol, not less, and living up to Congressional mandates is the place to begin. We look forward to commenting on the rule and working with both Congress and the Administration to take full advantage of this renewable fuel resource.”

Background: The EPA today released targets for the nation’s Renewable Fuel Standard, which determines how much ethanol will be blended into the nation’s gasoline supplies. The new requirements for 2015-2016 are 16.3 billion and 17.4 billion gallons – significantly short of the standard mandated by Congress. The EPA proposal will be open for comment beginning July 27 with a final rule expected by Nov. 30.