a 

C. L. "BUTCH" OTTER 

GOVeaNOR 

February 10, 2014 

The Honorable Gina McCarthy 

Administrator 

Environmental Protection Agency 

1200 Pennsylvania Ave., N. W. 

Washington, DC 20460 

Via email, hard copy to follow 

Re: Renewable Fuel Standards 

Dear Administrator McCarthy, 

The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) was established by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and expanded by the 

Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. It requires that fitels sold in the United States contain 36 

billion gallons of renewable fuels by 2022. Each year the mandate for renewable fuels increases and, in 2014, 

18.5 billion gallons of renewable fuels must be blended —14.4 billion of which will involve corn-based ethanol. 

The goals behind the RFS were well-intentioned. However, in 2007 the energy market and our nation's energy 

landscape were very different than today. The RFS was designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, make 

our nation more energy secure, and provide a reliable domestic source of energy that would reduce energy 

imports from less-stable regions. Today, we are closer to achieving all of those important goals, but not 

because of the RFS. The 21 51 century energy renaissance has driven our nation's CO2 emissions near a 20-year 

low, made us the number-one producer of natural gas, and put us on track to become the world's largest 

producer of oil. Meanwhile, the mandate is causing unintended hanm to the U.S. economy. 

Last year, ten governors petitioned the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to waive down the corn ethanol 

mandate due to severe economic harm to their states' livestock industry and the trickle-down impact to 

supporting industries and consumers. Under Section 211(o)(7) of the Clean Air Act, Congress explicitly 

authorized the EPA to waive down the RFS mandates, in whole or in part, where there would be either (1) an 

inadequate domestic supply or (2) severe economic harm. Despite the devastating effects of the worst drought 

in 50 years, EPA did not take action. 

This year, we are faced with another challenge created by the RFS. While renewable fuel requirements are 

increasing yearly, gasoline demand in the United States is steadily declining. This dynamic has created the E10 

blendwall the point at which more renewable fuel is required to be blended than can be safely consumed in the 

United States, due to fundarnental constraints imposed by fueling infrastructure and problems of gasoline 

engine incompatibility with increased ethanol blends. With a few exceptions, automobiles are built and 

warranted for a 10-percent ethanol blend, and the same goes for small engines such as boats, lawnmowers and 

motorcycles.

.ci. TATE C..APITOL * BOISE, IDAHO 83720 • (208) 334-2100
The Honorable Gina McCarthy 

February 10, 2014 

Page 2 

Because of the blendwall, the RFS limits the supply of gasoline and diesel fuel for U.S. consumption. 

Compliance with the RFS is demonstrated through Renewable Identification Numbers ("RINs"). In effect, 

RINs operate like permits to sell specific quantities of gasoline and diesel for U.S. consumption. The number of 

RINs available for compliance depends on the consumption of renewable fuels in U.S. transportation fuels. 

Therefore, as the RFS mandates exceed the ability of the underlying fuel supply and vehicle and infrastructure 

compatibility to accommodate additional amounts of renewable fuels, there will be a shortage of RINs for 

compliance (i.e., permits to sell gasoline and diesel). This will, in turn, limit supplies of gasoline and diesel for 

U.S. consumption, resulting in severe economic harm to consumers and the overall economy. 

According to NERA Economic Consulting, there will be an inadequate supply of R1Ns to satisfy the various 

mandates of the 2014 RFS, forcing the overall reduction of supplies of gasoline and diesel for U.S. 

consumption. Therefore, NERA predicts that this reduction in supplies will create "an inadequate domestic 

supply" of gasoline and diesel fuel, resulting in "severe harm" across the U.S. economy. Indeed, NERA 

predicts that the blendwall would bring about "a $770 billion decline in GDP and a corresponding reduction in 

consumption per household of $2,700" by 2015. 

Due to the severe economic harm and inadequate domestic supply caused by the mandate as described above, 

EPA has the authority under Section 211(o)(7) to waive down the volumes required to be blended in 2014. The 

EPA took a step in the right direction when it acknowledged the blendwall and exercised this authority in the 

proposed 2014 RFS volumes rule by waiving the volumes to just below 10-percent ethanol. EPA must still 

finalize the 2014 RFS volumes, and we strongly urge EPA to stay the course and remain steadfast in its resolve 

to avoid the blendwall and a dangerous economic situation by keeping the volumes below 10-percent ethanol. 

Thank you for your consideration.

As Always — Idaho, "Esto Perpetua"

.d *tcc^6 

C.L. "Butch" Otter 

Govemor of Idaho 

Cc:	[daho Congressional Delegation