Iowa biodiesel industry commends Rep. Hinson on letter to EPA
The Iowa Biodiesel Board has applauded Iowa U.S. Representative Ashley Hinson (R-02) for leading a bipartisan letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) encouraging more usage of biofuels in the U.S. The EPA is currently considering volume obligations for the 2026 Renewable Fuel Standard.
Co-authored by Minnesota U.S. Rep. Angie Craig (D-02) and signed by 37 representatives from both parties, including all Iowa representatives, the letter urges the agency to support volumes for biomass-based diesel and other advanced biofuels “…that fully account for availability and production capacity, while providing an equivalent increase for overall renewable fuel volumes.”
Grant Kimberley, executive director of the Iowa Biodiesel Board, issued the following statement: “We commend Rep. Hinson for her leadership in trying to convince EPA to take a stronger course of action with biodiesel under the RFS. As the letter states, increasing the production, availability and use of advanced biofuels is crucial to meeting America’s decarbonization goals while contributing to economic opportunities in our communities.
“EPA should set the RFS volumes considerably higher to reflect our country’s increased production capacity for clean fuels like biodiesel. To do otherwise has the effect of restraining growth in the renewable fuels market, a vital part of Iowa’s economy and livelihood of our farmers. One major Iowa biodiesel plant has already shuttered in the last year – we do not want to lose more. We join the legislators in urging EPA to send a strong message of support to renewable fuel producers by looking at the current RFS biodiesel volumes as a launch pad rather than as a ceiling, while preserving demand across all categories of biofuels.”
Biodiesel is made from a diverse mix of resources, including soybean oil, recycled cooking oil and animal fats. The Iowa Biodiesel Board is a state trade association representing the biodiesel industry.
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