Statement on the EPA’s finalized rule on biofuels

This statement is in response to breaking news. Please contact pr@rstreet.org to speak with the scholars.

In response to the recent EPA announcement of record setting bio-fuel volumes, the R Street Institute’s Nan Swift, resident senior fellow with our governance program, released the following statement:

“Constant efforts to force more foodstuffs into our transportation fuel supply, whether via increased renewable volume obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), waivers for E15, or tax incentives, inevitably fall short of agriculture sector expectations because they are at odds with consumers’ desires and habits. No amount of government meddling will ever resolve this fundamental disconnect. This has been true since the first ethanol mandate was proposed more than 90 years ago, though that hasn’t discouraged corn industry boosters.

Doubling down on an unworkable biofuels regime comes at a high price for those affected by small engine or costly water quality issues that are downstream effects of the RFS. 

As ongoing global fuel and fertilizer supply disruptions create input volatility, Congress–and the Environmental Protection Agency–should rethink plans to maintain high commodity outputs despite an oversaturated market.”