Shaheen, Hassan & Bipartisan Group of Senators Urge Biden Administration to Increase Biodiesel Volumes, Provide Certainty to Producers
**In letter to Environmental Protection Agency, Senators highlight how American biodiesel moderates fuel prices, benefits the economy and environment**
(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and a bipartisan group of Senators urged the Biden administration to increase the proposed biodiesel volumes in the upcoming Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) for 2023 and 2024 to provide certainty to farmers and producers. In their letter, the Senators highlighted how American biodiesel moderates fuel prices and benefits the economy and environment.
“We strongly encourage EPA to utilize the upcoming RVOs for 2023 and 2024 to continue to increase volumes of biomass-based diesel,” the Senators wrote to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan. “The production and use of biomass-based diesel contributes significantly to our economy and environment. These homegrown fuels add to our country’s critical fuel supplies, which helps to moderate fuel prices.”
“Farmers and biofuel producers are an essential part of the solution to the nation’s economic, environmental, and energy security challenges. They deserve certainty in this policy. A multiyear rule would provide the predictability and market signals that the biomass-based diesel industry needs to grow,” the Senators continued. “Biofuels are poised to play an essential role in a sustainable, homegrown energy future. With the increased use of biomass-based diesel, we can advance efforts to diversify our nation’s fuel supply while creating and sustaining jobs, strengthening local economies, generating tax revenues, and improving energy security.”
The letter was also signed by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Patty Murray (D-WA), John Thune (R-SD), Tina Smith (D-MN), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Susan Collins (R-ME), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Angus King (I-ME) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT).
Shaheen is a leader in Congress for diversifying the fuel supply through advanced renewable fuels, as well as utilizing biomass for clean energy initiatives and leveling the playing field for producers of biomass energy. Shaheen led the New Hampshire delegation in calling on the EPA to act on existing Congressional direction to include electricity in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) in time for biomass power producers to participate in the 2020 market. The New Hampshire biomass power industry has been directly threatened by the agency’s failure to include electricity in the RFS program.
The full text of the letter is available here.
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