By Illinois News Network
SPRINGFIELD – It’s unfair to change the ethanol rules on Illinois farmers. That’s the message to the U.S. EPA from Philip Nelson, the Director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture, about proposed changes to Renewable Fuel Standards.
In a statement from Illinois’ Department of Agriculture, Nelson said the proposal violates a 2007 law mandating a certain level of corn-based ethanol blends for 2015 and 2016 by lowering those standards by more than a billion gallons each year. Nelson said farmers are locked into their planting decisions for the year and the proposed rules will impact the industry.
Illinois is the third leading producer of biofuels and has 14 ethanol plants which provides 4,000 direct job’s for Illinois citizens, according to the Department of Agriculture. The proposed rules will take public comment until July 27th with finalized rules by November of this year.
