It’s no secret that I have been a
leader in promoting renewable energy sources. Iowa has done even more to lead
the nation in biofuels production. This leads to a cleaner environment and
increases America’s energy independence.
Last week, Reuters reported the Biden
administration is considering ways to allow U.S. oil refiners to not meet their
biofuel blending requirements.
This same Administration has proposed
hundreds of billions in subsidies for electric vehicles but failed to include
any support for biofuels infrastructure, which play a vital role in our
nation’s transportation sector.
Need I remind my colleagues,
President Biden promised in his campaign to “promote and advance renewable
energy, ethanol, and other biofuels to help rural America and our nation’s
farmers.” He’s not keeping his promise.
Unfortunately, despite the Administration’s
emphasis on the environment and climate, their recent actions contradict that
and undermine their entire credibility.
The biofuel industry has proven that
ethanol reduces greenhouse gas emissions from motor fuel by almost half.
Almost every vehicle on the road can run on at least
E-10 ethanol. Many retailers are now selling more E-15 ethanol and other higher
blends like E85.
According to the Energy Information Administration, by
2050, 81 percent of new vehicle sales will still be gas-powered or flex fuel.
In my introductory telephone
conversation with EPA Administrator Regan when he was nominated, he told me
that biofuels are a major tool in the Biden administration’s plan to combat
climate change. I stressed to him the importance of the biofuels industry to
both agriculture and energy.
No matter what the EPA or Big Oil
says about the impact of its waivers to oil companies making billions in
profits, farmers and biofuels producers know and feel the negative impact.
Any attempt to exempt oil refiners
from their biofuels obligation is a blatant bailout.
The law is simple – blend biofuels or
buy credits from those who do.
By adding more biofuels to our energy
mix, we can reduce emissions from dirty oil while keeping transportation costs
low for working families.
Unfortunately, despite the Administration’s emphasis
on environment, it seems like biofuels don’t appear to be much of a priority.
And now, it looks like labor unions
have been co-opted by Big Oil and are doing their bidding with the White House.
President Biden is now faced with a
decision.
He can lower greenhouse gases with
biofuels or he can side with Big Oil to destroy biofuel demand by illegally
tampering with the RFS, just as the Obama and Trump administrations did with
Small Refinery Exemptions.
Whether it is labor unions or Big Oil
companies, I won’t tire in standing up for homegrown clean biofuels. I will continue to advocate for Iowans and biofuels
because it strengthens U.S. energy independence, makes for a cleaner
environment and creates jobs in rural America.
I encourage President Biden, EPA
Administrator Regan and my colleagues from across the aisle to keep it clean.
Does President Biden want to be known as Big Oil
Biden?
