(JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.)--The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision regarding the expanded Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS2) regulations was met with mixed emotions from the Missouri Corn Growers Association (MCGA).  On Wednesday, the EPA recognized the environmental benefits of corn-based ethanol, yet MCGA leaders were frustrated by the agency’s provisions to incorporate international indirect land use changes (ILUC) in their calculations.

Including the land use component, EPA acknowledged that corn-based ethanol reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions up to 21 percent.  This ruling cleared the path for the U.S. to produce 15 billion gallons of corn-based ethanol per year by 2015, fulfilling the production requirements established by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA).  However, if the ILUC penalty was removed, corn-based ethanol’s reduction would accurately reflect a 52 percent decrease in GHG emissions when compared to gasoline.  

“Although we appreciate EPA’s recognition of the advantages of corn-based ethanol over conventional gasoline, we are extremely disappointed EPA has exceeded Congressional authority by incorporating faulty economic models in their international indirect land use calculations,” said MCGA President Keith Witt, a corn farmer from Warrenton, Mo.  

“Not only is it junk science, but this flawed evaluation is unfairly applied only to biofuels,” continues Witt.  “How can EPA apply a penalty to corn-based ethanol when there is zero accountability on the indirect land use of petroleum?”

The ILUC theory incorrectly assumes that growing more corn results in a shortage of other crops which then causes land conversion in foreign countries.  On Monday, MCGA leaders joined Reps. Ike Skelton (D-04) and Jo Ann Emerson (R-08) in a press conference to support legislation that would prohibit the EPA from using ILUC in biofuels regulations.  The measure, HR 4572, garnered national media attention and signaled a growing distrust of the Environmental Protection Agency.  

“It is absolutely ridiculous to think the planting choices of Missouri farmers could dictate how land is utilized in Brazil,” stated Witt.  “EPA needs to once and for all reject the unproven theory of international indirect land use.  Meanwhile, corn farmers will continue to work hard to provide Americans with a cleaner, homegrown fuel that will help reduce our dependence on foreign oil and keep U.S. dollars here at home.”

To learn more about Missouri corn growers and the state’s farmer-owned ethanol industry, visit www.mocorn.org.  

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