The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee held an oversight hearing on February 24^th on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).  Those testifying at the hearing were Janet McCabe, Acting Assistant Administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation for the EPA; Howard Gruenspecht, Deputy Administrator at the Energy Information Administration; Lucian Pugliaresi, president of the Energy Policy Research Foundation; Ronald Minsk, energy policy consultant and former Special Assistant to the President for Energy and Environment; and Brooke Coleman, Executive Director at Advanced Biofuels Business Council.

The National Biodiesel Board submitted written testimony for the record and the American Soybean Association contacted Senators on the committee in advance of the hearing to reiterate the soybean industry’s support for the RFS.  Biodiesel is a significant market outlet for soybean oil as well as animal fats and provides numerous benefits for consumers and society as a whole, including jobs, petroleum displacement, emissions reductions, and reduced soy meal costs for livestock production.  Livestock producers also benefit as a feedstock supplier for biodiesel.  Biodiesel now comprises the 2^nd largest market for animal fats, next to feed.

While there is currently no traction for legislative efforts to revise or eliminate the RFS, the ASA and our biodiesel industry partners remain active in our advocacy efforts, touting the benefits of biodiesel and the success story it has become with the support of the RFS.