By: Todd Neeley | Progressive Farmer
LINCOLN, Neb. (DTN) -- A group of federal lawmakers is raising questions about the legality of EPA's proposal to create so-called electricity renewable identification numbers or eRINs, a program in the Renewable Fuel Standard.
As part of a multiyear RFS set proposal due for finalization in June, the EPA is seeking comment on the use of eRINs to incentivize the expansion of the electric vehicle industry as well as for electricity produced using biomass.
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The lawmakers said the EPA is in violation of the EISA for not having conducted a study of how an eRINs program would affect the economy.
"Section 206(b) of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 included a provision that required the EPA administrator to conduct a study on 'the feasibility of issuing credits' for 'electric vehicles powered by electricity produced from renewable energy sources' within 18 months of enactment," the letter said.
"EPA has missed the statutory deadline by nearly 14 years, but now it is moving forward with the rulemaking without studying the feasibility or market impacts of establishing an entirely new RIN program that would be contrary to both the RFS' statutory language and the intent of Congress."
The letter is signed by Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, chair of the committee; Bill Johnson, chair of the subcommittee on environment, manufacturing and critical materials; and Reps. Richard Hudson, Michael C. Burgess, Robert Latta, H. Morgan Griffith, Gus Bilirakis, Larry Bucshon, Tim Walberg, Earl Carter, Jeff Duncan, Gary Palmer, Neal Dunn, John Curtis, Debbie Lesko, Greg Pence, Dan Crenshaw, John Joyce, Kelly Armstrong, Randy Weber, Rick Allen, Troy Balderson, Russ Fulcher, August Pfluger, Diana Harshbarger, Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Kat Cammack and Jay Obernolte.
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