Aug. 8

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has denied a request by Texas to reduce the nationwide Renewable Fuels Standard.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry had asked the EPA to reduce by one-half the amount of ethanol and biodiesel that must be blended into petroleum fuel for sale. Perry argued the current mandate -- which requires 9 billion gallons of renewable fuel in 2008 and 11.1 billion gallons in 2009 -- was driving up food prices and harming Texas cattle ranchers who feed their herds corn, the primary feedstock for ethanol.

However, EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson, who announced his decision Aug. 7 to deny the waiver request, said there was insufficient evidence that the existing renewable fuel standard would cause "severe harm" to the economy or the environment, which is the standard required for granting a waiver.

Johnson said the requirement is helping reduce both greenhouse gas emissions and America´s dependence on foreign oil.

Contact Waste News senior reporter Bruce Geiselman at (330) 865-6172 or bgeiselman@crain.com

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