Des Moines Sun

U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), along with U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) and a bipartisan group of lawmakers, has introduced a resolution in the Senate to mark the 20th anniversary of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The resolution recognizes two decades since the establishment of the RFS, which was enacted as part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

Grassley emphasized the importance of renewable fuels for consumers and rural communities. “Renewable fuels lower prices at the pump, strengthen our energy security and support our rural communities. For 20 years, the Renewable Fuel Standard has strongly supported Iowa agriculture, and I’m proud to join my colleagues to introduce this resolution celebrating two decades of hard work and innovation. As a lifelong family farmer, I’ll never stop advocating for our rural communities,” Grassley said.

The initiative is co-led by U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), as well as Representatives Max Miller (R-Ohio), Nikki Budzinski (D-Ill.), Adrian Smith (R-Nebraska), Angie Craig (D-Minn.), Mike Flood (R-Neb.), Don Bacon (R-Neb.), Mike Bost (R-Ill.), Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa), and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa).

Grassley played a key role in creating the RFS through his work on the Energy Policy Act nearly two decades ago. The policy requires oil refiners to blend renewable fuels into transportation fuel supplies, which brought stability to markets and led to growth in biorefinery investment across the country.

Iowa remains at the forefront of ethanol production nationwide. Estimates show that on average, implementation of the RFS lowers gasoline costs for American drivers by between 10 to 30 cents per gallon.

Earlier this year, Grassley joined Senator Klobuchar in urging Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin to maintain integrity within the RFS program. In May, Grassley and Ricketts also put forward another bipartisan resolution recognizing May as Renewable Fuels Month.

For more details about the text of this new resolution, visit HERE.