WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp is making a bipartisan push for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to increase quotas for biofuels, and to ensure the agency is not improperly using refinery waivers to undermine a strong Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) that supports North Dakota biofuel producers and farmers.

After Heitkamp pushed the EPA to boost biofuel quotas, the agency recently proposed raising the biomass-based diesel volume for 2020 to 2.43 billion gallons and increase the advanced biofuel volume for 2019 to 4.88 billion gallons. While the increases were encouraging, Heitkamp helped lead a bipartisan push with U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Roy Blunt (R-MO), and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to urge EPA to further boost the quotas, and to ensure that they are met. Click here to read their letter.

“A strong RFS is critical to support North Dakota farmers, biofuel producers, and jobs in rural communities across the state,” Heitkamp said. “I spoke out against EPA’s efforts to undermine biofuels under Administrator Pruitt’s tenure at EPA, and I’ve proactively met with Acting Director Wheeler to urge him to reverse course and boost support for biofuels that are a key part of North Dakota’s successful all-of-the-above energy strategy. We finally appear to be moving in the right direction, but we can set quotas even higher and allow for the year-round sale of E15 to fully realize the job and energy-creating potential of biofuels.”

Heitkamp has been fighting for a strong RFS and against efforts to undermine the important program for North Dakota farmers and ethanol producers. In a recent meeting with EPA Acting Director Andrew Wheeler, Heitkamp pushed him to focus on North Dakota priorities like protecting the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and promoting year-round sale of E15. She has repeatedly pressed the administration to uphold its commitment to a strong RFS, and led a bipartisan push to urge the EPA to increase its proposed 2019 Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) for biodiesel.

In recent meetings with farmers and biofuel producers across the state, Heitkamp has heard concerns about the EPA’s improper use of refinery waivers that undermine the RFS and hurt North Dakota’s farm economy. In a recent bipartisan push, Heitkamp expressed deep concerns about the administration’s use of waivers that contradict the commitments the president has made to protect the RFS.

Heitkamp has also been fighting for year-round sale of E15 fuel to boost North Dakota farmers and biofuel producers. The administration has said it supports E15, but has yet to follow through on a commitment to allow yearlong sale of the fuel blend.

Heitkamp recently toured Red Trail Energy in Richardton, N.D., where she discussed the need to protect the RFS to support job-creating facilities like Red Trail and the farmers who grow crops for biofuel production. Red Trail is a biofuel plant that converts corn into renewable ethanol, supporting North Dakota farmers and playing a critical role in an all-of-the-above energy strategy that boosts North Dakota’s economy.

As a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Heitkamp has long been a vocal advocate for biodiesel and ethanol – industries that support over 400,000 American jobs, including many in North Dakota. For years, Heitkamp has fought for the EPA to provide certainty to farmers and biofuels workers, and has continually pressed the agency to issue a strong RFS. Nearly 50 percent of all corn in North Dakota can be used in the production of ethanol.

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