Posted on 08/07/2008 9:29:58 PM PDT by smokingfrog
HOUSTON, Aug. 7 -- The US Environmental Protection Agency has denied a request submitted by Texas Gov. Rick Perry for a 50% waiver from the federal renewable fuel standard (RFS) mandate for corn-based ethanol.
The RFS, part of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, requires increased national production of renewable biofuels to 36 billion gal/year by 2022 from 9 billion gal/year in 2008.
Perry blamed increased demand for corn-based ethanol for contributing to escalating corn prices, which he said contributes to higher food prices and also higher costs for livestock feed (OGJ Online, July 22, 2008).
EPA said it recognized that high commodity prices have economic impacts but that an extensive analysis found no compelling evidence that the RFS mandate is causing severe economic harm during the time period specified by Texas.
Current law authorizes EPA to waive the national RFS if the agency determines that the mandated biofuel volumes would cause "severe harm" to the economy or the environment.
"After reviewing the facts, it was clear this request did not meet the criteria in the law," EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson said during a conference call with reporters from Washington, DC, on Aug. 7.
EPA conducted detailed analysis, consulted closely with the Departments of Energy and Agriculture, and considered more than 15,000 public comments. This was the first RFS-related waiver request.
Yeah for sure. It will be interesting to see if Perry will take this further. I don't know if the head of the EPA is an appointed position or not. But, if it is appointed, then Bush should jerk this guy out and replace him asap.
I remember back during the oil embargo of the 70’s when Congress passed the 55 mph law, some states attempted to buck it and the informed by our federal government that if they did not comply with the 55 mph law their federal funds would be held up until they did. It's my guess that's the leverage the feds would use against Perry if he should attempt to go against the ethanol regulation as well...
It would be interesting if a state had the leverage to block federal tax withholdings from being deducted from their constituent's paychecks. "Cut us off and we cut you off".
Perhaps we need Washington to pass a simple law that, outside of military spending, all taxes collected in a jurisdiction must be spent in that same jurisdiction.
Where does the EPA get it's power from? If Perry was anything more than a hairspray head, he'd tell the EPA to get bent...
“It would be interesting if a state had the leverage to block federal tax withholdings from being deducted from their constituent’s paychecks. “Cut us off and we cut you off”.”
Indeed it would. It’s my guess that Texas is one of the states that pays more taxes to the fed’s than it gets back through federal funding. So, it would be a net gain in revenue for Texas. I say let’s go for it and see what happens...
Ya gotta wonder what's going on.
He didn't cave in to the state dept over that mexican scum he let be executed the other day either.
I/m with you get all the farmers off the federal teat
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