Just as ethanol supporters were responding to the call for Renewable Fuel Standard reform – they were applauding the rejection of a petition by the Chicken Council challenging the EPA’s rulemaking on the RFS2. The dismissal of the meat industry petition by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit was hailed by Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis and Renewable Fuels Association President Bob Dinneen as a victory for American ethanol producers and renewable fuel advocates. The two added that this was the last of many challenges to the RFS2 rulemaking and each was rejected. By denying this latest challenge – Buis and Dinneen say the Court has vindicated the RFS2 rulemaking process.
According to Buis and Dinneen – the RFS is arguably the nation’s most effective energy policy – spurring the development of a domestic biofuels industry that is creating hundreds of thousands of jobs that can’t be outsourced. They say it is also helping to decrease the nation’s reliance on imported oil – thus reducing prices at the pump. Buis and Dinneen say the Court ruling demonstrates that the charges against ethanol made by anti-biofuel lobbies don’t hold up under scrutiny.
The results of a study funded by a coalition of livestock and poultry groups were just released last week. That study found that increases in commodity prices are strongly associated with the RFS mandate – and that – because the promised benefits on oil imports and gasoline prices haven’t been seen – Americans are paying more for food without seeing lower prices at the pump.
Source: NAFB News Service