Last year, before the EPA implemented the finalized blending volumes for 2023 through 2025, Ernst urged the agency to increase the proposed Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) levels for advanced biofuels and biomass-based diesel fuels. Instead of listening to Ernst’s warnings, the EPA finalized blending volumes that failed to accurately reflect market conditions and future production capacity coming online. As a result, two biomass-based diesel plants have now closed, including one in Ralston, Iowa. Following the plant’s closure, Ernst pushed the administration to increase RVO levels for homegrown Iowa biofuels.
