Cardin: Congress should fix renewable fuel standard

Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) called on Congress to reform the way the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) calculates the renewable fuel standard (RFS).

“While I applaud EPA’s recognition that it should attempt to finalize [renewable volume obligation] rules for multiple sequential years, the real answer is for Congress to act by reforming and fixing this important statute,” Cardin said Monday. “I will continue finalize an RFS reform bill that should be considered in the next Congress.”

{mosads}Cardin’s comments came after the administration announced that it wouldn’t issue a final rule by the end of the year on standards that tell refiners how much ethanol and other biofuels must be blended into the fuel supply.

“The EPA continues to be faced with having to administer what amounts to an unworkable statute when it comes to Renewable Fuel Standard,” Cardin said. “In reality, Congress has left EPA in a difficult position to make sense out of an unworkable process. … This incredible challenge is only going to get worse over time.”

The only group pleased by the announcement of a delay was the oil industry, which argues biofuels harm equipment and cars.