Department urges U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to reconsider proposed renewable fuel standard rules

[July 14, 2015]  SPRINGFIELD - Director Philip Nelson is calling on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) to reconsider the proposed Renewable Fuel Standards (RFS) volume obligations that were laid out earlier this spring. This action comes as several partner states, such as Iowa and Missouri, testified recently in opposition of the proposal at the USEPA hearing on RFS.

"This proposal is in direct violation of the 2007 law (Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007) on the Renewable Fuel Standards, which mandates corn-based ethanol blends at 15 billion gallons for 2015 and 2016," said Agriculture Director Philip Nelson. "It is fundamentally unfair to suddenly change the rules on Illinois farmers."

In May of 2015, USEPA released the proposed RFS volume obligations for 2014, 2015, and 2016. The proposed standards decrease volume levels to 13.4 billion gallons for 2015 and 14 billion gallons for 2016. The public comment period for the proposed rules is open until July 27, 2015. Rules are to be finalized by USEPA by November 30, 2015.

"This announcement comes at the heels of a drop in corn prices and projected farm income," said Nelson. "Farmers are locked into their planting decisions for the year and these proposed rules have real implications on the industry."

Illinois is the 3rd leading producer of biofuels (which includes biodiesel and ethanol) and is the home to 14 ethanol plants. Illinois ethanol plants provide 4,000 direct jobs for Illinois citizens. Additionally, 6.25 million tons of distillers dried grains (DDG's) and solubles for livestock feed are produced, valued at $1.375 billion. The ethanol industry has s $37 million impact in state or local revenue.

[Illinois Department of Agriculture]