### Testimony of Scott Averhoff Corn Producers Association of Texas

on June 25, 2015 before the Environmental Protection Agency

Hearing on Renewable Fuel Standard: Proposed Renewable Fuel Volumes for Calendar Years 2014, 2015 and 2016

My name is Scott Averhoff, and I am speaking against the propose d renewable fuel volumes for calendar years 2014, 2015 and 2016. Thank you for the opportunity to testify today.

I am a corn, cotton, wheat and sorghum farmer from Wa xahachie, Texas, which is just s outh of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. I currently ser ve on the board of the Corn Producers Association of Texas, and am speaking on behalf of our association’s membership and myself

. The state of Texas has four operating ethanol plants, which produce ethanol at a nameplate capacity of 390 million gallons. While my state may not be among the largest ethanol producer s , we are amongst the largest users of the product . In 2014, Texans cons umed 1.2 billion gallons of ethanol

– approximately 9 percent of the domestic consumption . This doesn’t take into account the considerable amount of ethanol’s co

- product, distillers grains, used in Texas feedlots and dairies.

Living in a non

- attainment area , I can appreciate that ethanol lowers the level of toxic emission in vehi cle exhaust compared to gasoline. Energy experts estimate d global ethanol us e to reduce greenhouse

- gas emissions by 100 million metric tons in 2012

– equival ent to taking 20.2 million vehicles off the road. The EPA should not halt progress made to reduce air pollution, improve human health and reduce greenhouse

- gas emissions by moving forward with this proposal.

Despite increases in the amount of course grains used for ethanol over the years, the amount of land dedicated to s uch crop s , including corn, has actually decreased 6.9 percent globally from 1980 to 2013. Farmers in Texas plant approximately 2 million acres of corn each year, and have done so since befo re the RFS

. The agricultural industry has been able to meet the r ising demands of all uses

, primarily by increasing the crop’s yields through advancements in technology and management practices.In this regard, it’s important to also note that the same bushel o f corn used to make this fuel is also making distillers grain, a high protein feed for livestock

. Disrupting the demand for corn used for ethanol, as put forth by your proposal, would have a rippling effect to the agricultural commodities market that will impact more than just corn farmers. Lessening the demand in the ethanol market for corn will cause farmers to plant alternative crop s ; in turn, increasing those crops’ production and decreasing their price . This not only impacts farmers, but taxpayers

as w ell through increased layouts of commodi ty and crop insurance programs.

Since the inception of the RFS, American corn farmers have risen to the challenge of increasing our production to meet the demand for this renewable fuel , while still providing for existing markets and maintaining a surplus. U.S. consumers have benefitted by havin g a clean

- burning, domestically produced fuel. The EPA should not turn its back on American s and halt the progress toward cleaner air and access to renewable fuel resources.

The proposal put for th by your agency would be detrimental to our nation

. I urge the EPA to restore the Renewable Volume Obligations for each year to the statutory amount and maintain a strong methodology.