COLUMBUS, Ohio — Earlier this month, the Ohio Soybean Association (OSA) joined other soybean associations in support of a petition to include biofuels in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) vehicle standards. OSA filed the petition with a federal appeals court along with soybean associations from Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota as well as Diamond Alternative Energy LLC.
In the petition filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, OSA and the allied groups argue the EPA’s final rule for greenhouse gas (GHG) standards for passenger cars and light trucks would exclude biofuels by mandating only electric vehicles as the sole technology solution to curb GHG emissions in the transportation sector. This action is at odds with the Clean Air Act and directly contradicts the law passed by Congress to promote renewable fuels under the Renewable Fuel Standard.
“American grain farmers have a proven solution for improved air quality that’s grown right here at home,” said OSA President and Shelby County soybean farmer Patrick Knouff. “Using biodiesel instead reduces GHG emissions by more than 85% compared to petroleum-based fuels.”
A study by Clean Fuels Alliance America (formerly the National Biodiesel Board) found that in 2019, biodiesel reduced U.S. GHG emissions by nearly 18 million metric tons. In addition to the good they provide for the environment, biofuels are an important part of the economy. A December 2021 report issued by Capital Policy Analytics found that the economic benefits from U.S. biodiesel production in 2020 totaled $15 billion, in addition to environmental benefits of $4.3 billion.
About OSA
The Ohio Soybean Association is governed by a volunteer farmer board dedicated to shaping policy and legislation to ensure a growing and profitable soybean industry for future generations of soybean farmers. More information about OSA can be found at www.soyohio.org/association.
— Ohio Soybean Association
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