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Johnson, Biofuels Caucus Urge President to Uphold Campaign Promises on Biofuels

June 18, 2021

Washington, D.C. – This week members of the Biofuels Caucus, led by U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-SD), urged President Biden to uphold his campaign commitment to protect the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Recent reports suggest the Biden Administration is considering a nationwide waiver of RFS for the oil industry, a decision that would be detrimental to rural farmers and biofuels producers across rural America.

"We are alarmed by reports that your Administration is considering circumventing the law via compliance relief to the oil industry through a nationwide waiver of Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS)," said the members. "When illegal Small Refinery Exemptions (SREs) were under consideration by the previous Administration, we put partisan politics aside and vocally opposed the merits of the proposal on an overwhelming bipartisan basis. We remain concerned that any attempt to undermine the law as it relates to the RFS will damage our rural economies and harm our local farmers and biofuels producers."

These reports directly contradict President Biden's promise to uphold the RFS and support the biofuels industry. Any attempt to circumvent the law will hurt South Dakota farmers and biofuels producers by creating uncertainty.

"The White House claims to be a champion for the environment, and I hoped that would make this administration a strong supporter of biofuels. States like South Dakota are leading the effort to produce high quality blended fuels that are cleaner for the environment," said Johnson. "It will be a shame if President Biden circumvents the RFS in favor of the oil industry."

As co-chair of the Congressional Biofuels Caucus, Johnson has been a champion for the RFS. Johnson led multiple letters urging the EPA to prioritize biofuels and introduced numerous bills to grow the biofuels industry and highlight the environmental benefits of biofuels. In February, the Biofuels Caucus introduced the RFS Integrity Act to ensure transparency in the RFS small refinery waiver process.

The full letter can be found here.