M E M O R A N D U M
TO: Reporters and Editors
RE: EPA and Biofuels
Senator Chuck Grassley today made the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency released its notice of proposed rulemaking on the Renewable Fuels Standard and announced the formation of a Biofuels Interagency Working Group with the Departments of Agriculture and Energy.
"I applaud the administration's creation of the working group to help ensure that we are ready to produce and market today's biofuels and the next generation of biofuels as quickly and economically as possible. It reiterates the importance of this sector to the future health of our economy, environment and national security.
"The EPA also began the debate over direct and indirect green house gas emissions with today's notice of proposed rulemaking. I appreciate the fact that they accurately depicted the positive impact ethanol has on direct greenhouse gas emissions by including data that shows a 61 percent reduction in emissions compared to gasoline.
"And, while I'm disappointed that the EPA included speculative assumptions on indirect land use, they did leave room for a vigorous scientific debate on the factors and methodology that might be used to determine any indirect land use conclusions. Frankly, there's no sound science to calculate indirect land use and it's ridiculous to think that Brazilian farmers are looking to see what Iowa farmers are doing to determine how they run their own business. But, it's clear this administration supports the U.S. biofuels industry, and I'm confident they wouldn't do anything to undermine our homegrown renewable fuels.
"Now it's time for scientists and farmers alike to let their voices be heard and tell EPA how wrong it would be to include incomplete science and inaccurate assumptions to determine indirect land use."