A dozen Midwest U.S. Senators wrote EPA Administrator Michael Regan this week asking him to turn down any requests by refiners to waiver or reduce their ethanol blending requirements under the Renewable Fuel Standard.
Those requirements are what led to CVR Energy’s U.S. Supreme Court challenge of a ruling that went against its Wynnewood Refinery last year. The refinery sought exemption from the requirements but when the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver ruled against it, the company went to the highest court in the country.
The senators, led by Nebraska Republican Deb Fischer and Minnesota Democrat Amy Klobuchar wrote, “Restoring the integrity of the RFS and expanding market opportunities for renewable fuels should remain a core part of our plans to assist in the economic recovery of rural America and further reduce emissions from the transportation sector.”
“Despite the damage done by the pandemic,” they continued, “the RFS remains an effective tool for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and expanding economic opportunity in rural America.”
Others who signed the letter were: Sens. Tina Smith, Charles Grassley, Debbie Stabenow, M. Michael Rounds, Richard Durbin, John Thune, Tammy Baldwin, Roger Marshall M.D., Josh Hawley and Joni Ernst.