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WIGFIER EPUCATION AFJD 

WORKFORCE TRAINING November 6, 2013

WASHINGTON OFfiCE:


1527 LONGWORTH HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING


WASHINGTON, DC 20515 

f202)225-6576 

DISTRICT OPFICES. 

125 SCN1Tf1 ClUHUOUE STREET 

IowA CiTV. IA 52240 

J319)351--0789


209 WEST ATH STREET,MIOJ 

pAVENPORT,IA 52601 

(563)323-5988 

11866) 914-IOWA 

Gina McCarthy 

Administrator 

Environmental Protection Agency 

1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Room 3426 ARN 

Washington, DC 20460 

Dear Administrator McCarthy, 

As the EPA prepares the 2014 Renewable Volurne Fuel Obligations (RVOs), I write to share my 

strong concern about lowering Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) requirements. The leaked 2014 

proposed RVOs indicated a potential RVO of 13 billion gallons for renewable fuel. I am greatly 

concerned that this reduction would have a devastating effect on rn.ual communities as well as 

local and state economies, and would derail the opportunity for biofuels to significantly decrease 

our foreign oil dependence and greenhouse gas emissions. 

There is no doubt that the RFS has played an important role in the economies of our rural 

communities and states like Iowa. Since 2009, corn prices have varied greatly from under $3, to 

over $7.50, back to under $6, up to $8.50, and now have steadily fallen to a current price of 

$4.25. These fluctuations and the current dramatic fall in prices have all occurred while ethanol 

production grew rapidly to a record level in 2011 and has since stabilized. While the RFS has 

certainly consumed a portion of the corn crop, these fluctuations also include the uncertainties of 

agriculture and our farmers working in a climate of droughts and floods. Lowering of the 

renewable fuel RVO would have a devastating effect, potentially dropping the price of corn to 

unsustainable levels and putting our family farms and rural communities in jeopardy. 

As implementation of the RFS continues, it's critical that flexibility be used where needed. I 

believe the necessary flexibility is built into the RFS. I also question whether the EPA has the 

authority to significantly lower the renewable fuel volume target. It's clear that an adequate 

supply of conventional ethanol will be available. The EPA's only other authority to waive the 

requirement would be due to severe economic harm from maintaining it. However, lowering the 

RVO for renewable fuel would actually create severe economic hardship for our farmers, rural 

communities, and entire states such as Iowa. I strongly encourage the EPA to recognize how this 

action wouid severely hurt our economy, energy security, and the hard working, middle class 

folks and our communities in the middle of our country. 

The RFS was designed as a poiicy to increase our energy security and move toward less carbon 

intense fuels. The RFS is working. Largely due to a strong RFS, 10 percent of the oil used for 

vehicle fuel has been replaced, making us less dependent on foreign sources of oil and setting us 

PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER 
on a path to significant greenhouse gas emission reductions. There are also ways to work around 

any potential blend wall if the oil supply chain is willing to participate. From both an imports and 

environmental perspective, the only thing that can immediately replace ethanol in our fuel supply 

is more oil. Lowering the proposed 2014 RVOs to those similar to the leaked draft would reverse 

the progress we have made, ignore the benefits that we have seen, and increase dependence on 

oil. 

Moving forward, our country has a significant opportunity to cut our addiction to oil and 

greenhouse gas emissions through the use of biofuels. The potentially drastic cut in the RVOs 

will call into question our country's commitment to biofuels and significantly hamper 

investments in cellulosic and advanced biofuel options. Everyday our biofuels are getting better 

and better. New ethanol plants are sharply decreasing life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions, and 

cellulosic and advanced options are already demonstrating their capabilities as low-carbon fuel 

alternatives. Continuing to show strong support for biofuels is critical to encouraging 

investments to drive our cellulosic and advanced biofuel alternatives. 

Thank you for your time and consideration of the importance of strong 2014 RVOs. Please don't 

hesitate to reach out to me if you would like to further discuss the importance of a strong RFS 

policy for Iowans, our rural economies, and continuing to decrease our dependence on foreign oil 

and greenhouse gas emissions. 

a sack 

Iowa's Second District 

Cc: 

Sylvia Mathews Burwell 

Director 

Office of Management and Budget 

Eisenhower Executive Office Building, Room 251 

1650 Pennsylvania Ave. NW 

Washington, DC 20503 

Tom Vilsack 

Secretary 

U.S. Department ofAgriculture 

219A Whitten Building 

1400 Independence Ave., SW 

Washington, DC 20250