The Iowa Office of the Attorney General has reviewed the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed 2014 Renewable Volume Obligations as part of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and concluded that the EPA must return to the forward course the legislation intended.
“It’s clear that Congress intended to establish the RFS to foster increased production of renewable fuels, and waiving the standard would contravene the intent of Congress,” said 
Iowa General Attorney Tom Miller during a press conference held during the 8th Annual Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit sponsored by the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (Iowa RFA).
Miller writes in the letter to the EPA, “…the current proposal ignores the express terms of the statute and would contravene Congressional intent to foster increased production of renewable fuels.” Miller noted in the letter that according to the Clean Air Act, the EPA is authorized to waive the RFS only when implementation of the statutory standards would severely harm the economy or when there is an “inadequate domestic supply” – not distribution capacity – of renewable fuel, not blended fuel.
This is not the case, said Miller.
Renewable fuels are a critical part of Iowa’s economy according to Miller and provide a key market for agricultural crops and jobs. “If the EPA waived national fuel standards, not because of an inadequate supply of renewable fuel, but rather because of limited distribution capacity of blended fuels, it would be removing the incentives adopted by Congress to foster increased production of renewable fuels and greater energy independence,” concluded Miller.
Listen to press conference with IA General Attorney Tom Miller here: EPA's 2014 RFS Proposal Defies Statute