Update: Clinton Campaign and the RFS

Last week, Reuters news reported that, “Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s campaign has solicited advice from California regulators on how to revamp a federal regulation requiring biofuels like corn-based ethanol be blended into the nation’s gasoline supply…”

However, Christopher Doering reported on Friday at The Des Moines Register Online that, “Hillary Clinton’s campaign fought back Thursday against a report the Democratic presidential nominee might make significant changes to the mandate requiring ethanol be blended into the fuel supply.

“Clinton’s campaign confirmed Thursday that an aide with her office met with a California official recently to discuss the federal ethanol mandate known as the Renewable Fuel Standard and the state’s low-carbon fuel standard, among other topics. Reuters reported the meeting was a sign that Clinton, if elected, would look to adjust the regulation.

But Tyrone Gayle, a Clinton spokesman, said Clinton does not support replacing the existing RFS with one that requires lower-carbon fuels.”

Mr. Doering added that, “As part of her plan to right the RFS, Clinton has said the mandate needs to provide certainty for investors, improve consumer access to fuels with higher ethanol blends and spur the development of cellulosic and other advanced biofuels.

“A spokesman with the Agriculture Department said Secretary Tom Vilsack, speaking on his own behalf, has talked with Clinton and her advisers about the importance of biofuels and maintaining the RFS. He said when the former Iowa governor read reports that the campaign was listening to opinions on replacing the RFS with a national low-carbon fuel standard, Vilsack reached out to his contacts within her organization to express some concern.”

America’s Renewable Future, a bipartisan political group backed by top Iowa elected officials and people in agriculture and the ethanol industry, has given both Clinton and Trump high marks for their positions on ethanol and the RFS,” the Register article said.

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