BioFuels Journal

TX Gov. Perry's RFS Waiver Request: Groups For and Against

by Greg Sullivan, Grainnet editor

On April 25, Texas Governor Rick Perry asked the federal government to waive the Renewable Fuel Standard by 50% (9 to 4.5 billion gallons) for ethanol blended with gasoline in 2008.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) then called for a 30-day public comments period on the issue, which ended June 23.

Many groups, including corn growers associations, food processors, and feed producers were part of approximately 15,000 comments received by EPA.

All eyes now are focused on the EPA, which has until July 24 to rule on the waiver request.

Below is a sample of the broad range of interests involved.

Organizations FOR the RFS waiver:

• Grocery Manufacturers Association

• Food Before Fuel Coalition

• National Cattlemen's Beef Asociation

• National Chicken Council

• American Feed Industry Association

• The Heritage Foundation

• National Pork Producers Council

Organizations AGAINST the RFS waiver:

• U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S Department of Energy

• American Coalition for Ethanol

• National Corn Growers Association

• Texas Corn Producers Board and Texas Corn Producers Association

• Renewable Fuels Association

• Biotechnology Industry Organization

• Virginia Grain Producers Association

• Iowa Corn Growers Association

• Iowa Governor Chet Culver