To:

Mccarthy, Gina[McCarthy.Gina@epa.gov]; Beauvais, Joel[Beauvais.Joel@epa.gov]; Ganesan,

Arvin[Ganesan .Arvin@epa.gov]
Cc
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! Ex. 6 - Personal Privacy i

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'rob_barron@harkin.senate.gov'[rob_barron@harkin.senate.gov];
'brian_ah lberg@harkin .senate .gov'[brian_ah lberg@harkin .senate .gov]
From:
Hall, Chris [LEGIS]
Sent:
Tue 1/7/2014 4:36:53 PM
Subject: Renewable Fuels Standard

Chris Hall
COMMITTEES

STATE REPRESENTATIVE

Thirteenth District
Statehouse: (515) 281-3221

House of
Representatives

e-mail - chris.hall@legis.iowa.gov

State of Iowa

Commerce, Ranking Member

Appropriations
Natural Resources

Eighty-Fifth General Assembly

HOME ADDRESS

STATEHOUSE

3800 Glen Oaks Blvd., #94

Des Moines, Iowa 50319

Sioux City, IA 51104

Home: (712) 490-2088

Dear Administrator McCarthy:

Thank you for your agency's continued work on critical environmental and regulatory
issues. Currently, I serve in the Iowa House of Representatives, representing district 13
in the northwest part of my state. As you know, renewable energy is a vital and growing
industry here. In fact, biodiesel production supports more than 10,000 jobs in Iowa,
representing $400 million in wages and $3.4 billion in overall economic impact.
As a result, I am deeply concerned that your agency's proposed 2014 Renewable Fuel
Standard requirements will significantly curb biodiesel production in the coming year.
Under the Renewable Fuel Standard, biodiesel has been an overwhelming success

CREW FOIA 2014-006851-0001082

story, averaging 170 million gallons per month for several months or an annualized rate
of two billion gallons. The EPA's proposed reduction to 1.28 billion gallons would send
shock waves through the industry, put thousands of jobs at risk, and reduce critical
investments that drive economic activity in a challenging jobs environment.
Even beyond the immediate economic benefits this industry brings to Iowa, the EPA's
proposed rule will adversely impact our collective efforts to make the United States less
reliant on foreign sources of oil. Using methodology developed by your agency and the
Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Lab, increasing biodiesel production from
1.28 billion gallons to 1.7 billion gallons would generate energy security benefits valued
at $61.4 million due to reduced imports and associated price disruptions.
Finally, there are clear environmental benefits associated with biodiesel. Your agency
has determined that biodiesel reduces lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by 57
percent to 86 percent compared to petroleum diesel. With some 5.3 billion gallons used
from 2005 to 2012, biodiesel has reduced lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by 85.6
billion pounds - the same impact as removing 6.2 million passenger vehicles from
America's roadways.
Recently, more than 30 members of the United States Senate wrote to you, noting that,
"In setting 2014 targets for biodiesel, the EPA should avoid outcomes that could lead to
plant closures, worker layoffs, and uncertainly over future investments in the biodiesel
industry. We urge you to continue to support this fragile and growing industry with a
reasonable increase in the RFS volume requirement for 2014." I agree with this
sentiment and hope you will reconsider your agency's current proposal.
Sincerely,

Chris Hall

CREW FOIA 2014-006851-0001083

CREW FOIA 2014-006851-0001084