Durbin Meets with the Illinois Farm Bureau to Discuss Renewable Fuel Standard & Agricultural Priorities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met with the Illinois Farm Bureau today to discuss the importance of continuing to support and invest in Illinois’ agricultural communities. The group discussed the impact of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) long-delayed proposal to set production levels under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and other agricultural priorities. A photo of Durbin’s meeting will be available shortly here.
“The EPA’s decision on proposed biofuels requirements was disappointing, but it’s not the end of the road,” said Durbin. “The USDA will soon be awarding grants to states that are testing innovative ways to distribute higher blends of renewable fuel. I want Illinois to take advantage of this program and firmly establish itself as a leader in growing the industry.”
At the end of May, the EPA announced biofuels volume standards for 2014, 2015 and 2016. EPA’s proposal calls for 14 billion gallons of conventional biofuels in 2016 – 1 billion gallons less than Congress called for, for the same year.
Earlier in the month, Durbin joined seven of his Senate colleagues to meet with EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. During the meeting, the Senators – who represent a diverse group of states and stakeholders – reiterated their concerns regarding the uncertainty and delays of the RFS rule, and urged McCarthy to set strong renewable volume obligations through 2017. In April, Durbin also led a letter with a bipartisan group of 37 Senators calling for a strong RFS.
More information on Durbin’s work on biofuels and the Renewable Fuel Standard is available here.