Renewable Fuels Assn., BIO, Growth Energy welcome decision by US appeals court rejecting Monroe Energy's petition challenging the 2013 RFS; Renewable Fuels Assn. calls decision a victory for American consumers

Allison Oesterle

WASHINGTON , May 6, 2014 (press release) – Today, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit rejected a petition by Monroe Energy, LLC challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2013 Renewable Fuel Standards. The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), and Growth Energy intervened in the case.

After EPA reduced the cellulosic biofuel volume for 2013, Monroe Energy challenged EPA’s decision not to reduce the renewable fuel and advanced biofuel volumes by the same or a lesser amount. The Court rejected Monroe Energy’s argument that EPA’s decision served no “statutory purpose,” and reaffirmed Congress’s directive that EPA ensure that U.S. transportation fuel contains at least the volumes provided in the statute. The Court also rejected Monroe Energy’s attempts to revisit decisions about the RFS program that EPA made in earlier years, stating that “the time to challenge that decision has passed.”

Today’s decision is a victory for American consumers, renewable fuel advocates, and the RFS program. Once again, the Court has rejected attempts of the anti-biofuel parties to undermine the RFS in court. The RFS is arguably the nation’s most effective energy policy. It has spurred the development of a domestic biofuels industry that is creating hundreds of thousands of jobs that cannot be outsourced. In addition, it is providing environmental benefits, helping to decrease the nation’s reliance on imported oil, and reducing prices at the pump, as Congress intended.



About the Renewable Fuels Association
The Renewable Fuels Association is the leading trade association for America’s ethanol industry. Its mission is to advance the development, production, and use of ethanol fuel by strengthening America’s ethanol industry and raising awareness about the benefits of renewable fuels. RFA’s members are working to help America become cleaner, safer, more energy independent and economically secure. For more information, visit www.EthanolRFA.org.

About Growth Energy
Growth Energy is a group committed to the promise of agriculture and growing America’s economy through cleaner, greener energy. Growth Energy members recognize America needs a new ethanol approach. Through smart policy reform and a proactive grassroots campaign, Growth Energy promotes reducing greenhouse gas emissions, expanding the use of ethanol in gasoline, decreasing our dependence on foreign oil, and creating American jobs at home. More information can be found at GrowthEnergy.org.

About BIO
BIO represents more than 1,100 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. BIO also produces the BIO International Convention, the world’s largest gathering of the biotechnology industry, along with industry-leading investor and partnering meetings held around the world. BIO produces BIOTechNOW, an online portal and monthly newsletter chronicling “innovations transforming our world.”

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Press contact for Growth Energy: Michael Frohlich at (202) 222-5950 or mfrohlich@growthenergy.org.

Press contact for BIO: Paul Winters at (202) 962-9237 or pwinters@bio.org.

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