EPA declines to reduce Renewable Fuels Standard

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Stephen Johnson today denied Texas Gov. Rick Perry's request to reduce the amount of renewable fuels required for blending with gasoline. Johnson said EPA's analysis found no evidence that the Renewable Fuels Standard is causing severe economic harm, the criterion under which EPA could reduce the congressionally mandated standard.

"As expected, reaction to the announcement is mixed," Dave Russell and Bob Meyer report for Brownfield Network. Brian Jennings, executive vice president of the American Coalition for Ethanol, said the ruling "sets a precedent for others who would try to influence ethanol policy relying upon dishonest PR attacks instead of science and hard data."

National Pork Producers Council President Bryan Black said he was disappointed. "Now, we expect to see increasing pressure on the domestic pork industry, with the hog herd continuing to be reduced, producers going out of business, jobs being lost and retail pork prices rising," he said. National Cattlemen's Beef Association President Andy Groseta said, "We will continue our efforts to ease the burden of tight feed supplies for our cattle producers, and will encourage other states to file for waivers from the RFS." (Read more) For the EPA press release, click here.