Another Voice Added to the RFS Fight
A new organization has been formed to fight for the renewable fuel industry and the RFS. Americans for Energy Security and Innovation is the latest industry-supported organizations to begin a campaign to pressure the Obama administration and the EPA to administer the RFS the way it was intended. Led by former Missouri Senator Jim Talent, the new organization will focus on putting political pressure on the EPA, “One of the things we want to do is influence them directly and indirectly; and by influencing political leaders, to get the EPA to administer the law correctly.”
Talent, one of the original architects of the RFS legislation, says the White House has been actively working to limit the use of biofuels, just the opposite of what the RFS was intended to do, “The Obama administration has proposed laws that are inconsistent with the purpose of the RFS which is hypocritical given the President will travel to Paris in November to discuss the reduction of green house gases.” Talent said the RFS is the one thing the US is doing that actually reduces greenhouse gases.
Talent said this new group will target free-market conservative members of Congress who have not been strong supporters of renewable fuels, “Right now we do not have a free market because an international cartel that can and does manipulate the price of oil.” He added this will be the focus of the message the new group will bring to Washington.
Both Growth Energy and the Renewable Fuels Association issued statements saying they welcome the new group and pledging to work together for an even stronger voice for ethanol in Washington. “The RFA welcomes AESI to the ongoing efforts to ensure that the RFS remains America’s most successful energy policy,” said RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen. “Former Senator Talent has been an enthusiastic and outspoken supporter of the U.S. ethanol industry. We look forward to hearing the ideas this new group will put forth to ensure that the American public has access to clean, secure, affordable home-grown sources of energy. Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy, said in a statement, “We are pleased that Americans for Energy Security and Innovation have joined the important fight to ensure that the RFS is protected and that America has a strong, robust, and resilient renewable fuels industry.”