Shimkus Pushes RFS Reform Bill Despite Trump Deal On EPA-Led Changes

摘要

Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL), chairman of the energy committee's environment panel, says he is pushing ahead with long-running efforts to craft legislation overhauling EPA's renewable fuel standard (RFS) despite a deal brokered by the White House that will see the agency make several immediate administrative changes to the program. In a May 16 interview, Shimkus told Inside EPA that he will continue with the legislative bid because, "You really want to enshrine things in the law," suggesting a need for long-term certainty on RFS changes. Some observers have questioned whether EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, an RFS critic, will fully implement the deal. Shimkus has been leading House efforts at RFS reform that are yet to produce a bill. In the Senate, Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX) has been leading GOP efforts, while on the Democratic side Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM) has introduced a bill that would "sunset" the program after statutory biofuel blending volumes expire after 2022. However, the congressional talks have been eclipsed recently by White House-sponsored talks on RFS reforms. The RFS requires that refiners blend increasing quantities of alternative and renewable fuels into the U.S. fuel supply that have lower lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions than conventional gasoline. The program pits biofuels-producing states such as Iowa against those with a major oil industry presence like Texas. President Donald Trump has held a series of meetings with oil and biofuels groups, along with Pruitt and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and others, on steps to reform the RFS.