Editor's note: Karl Brooks is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 7 Administrator based in Kansas City. He supervises agency operations in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and nine tribal nations. Previous to this appointment, he was an associate professor at the University of Kansas. Since 2000, Brooks has taught American environmental, political and legal history as well as environmental law and policy to undergraduate, graduate and law students. He sent the following letter to Wallaces Farmer magazine in response to critics who say EPA isn't doing all it can to support ethanol and biodiesel.

To the editor:

"EPA is partnering in the Biofuels Working Group with USDA and the federal Department of Energy to accelerate production of American biofuels and reduce our nation's dependence on fossil fuels." - Karl Brooks, EPA regional administrator

EPA supports a significant expansion of renewable fuels including corn ethanol and soy biodiesel. Corn ethanol is the most popular renewable motor vehicle fuel in the U.S. and soy biodiesel is the second.

EPA's National Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program is designed to significantly increase the volume of renewable fuels in both highway and non-road gasoline and diesel vehicles. RFS will triple biofuels production from last year's 11 billion gallons to 36 billion gallons in 2022. RFS will also reduce America's dependence on oil by more than 328 million barrels a year and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 138 million metric tons a year when fully phased in by 2022. The reductions would be equivalent to taking about 27 million vehicles off the road.

RFS should decrease oil imports by $41.5 billion and boost energy security benefits by $2.6 billion. By 2022, increased use of renewable fuels should cut gasoline costs by 2.4 cents per gallon and diesel costs by 12.1 cents per gallon.
RFS will create new markets for ag products, growing jobs in areas of the country hit hard by the economic downturn and increase farmers' incomes. EPA's RFS program will increase net farm income by $13 billion dollars in 2022.
 
EPA is a partner in Biofuels Working Group with USDA and DOE

EPA has partnered in the Biofuels Working Group with USDA and the Department of Energy to accelerate production of American biofuels and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.
 
The Working Group's first report "Growing America's Fuel – a new U.S. Government strategy for meeting or beating the country's biofuel targets," mixes short-term government support for the existing biofuels industry with the commercial establishment of advanced biofuels. Together, EPA's federal partners will build a viable long-term market by transforming how the U.S. Government does business across departments and uses strategic public-private partnerships. To read the report, go to www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/rss_viewer/growing_americas_fuels.PDF

EPA is committed to advancing the production of biofuel

President Obama's Administration initiated steps to boost biofuels. EPA chief Laura Jackson and I are committed to advancing biofuel production. The White House and EPA realize the potential to rebuild and revitalize rural communities. EPA is pleased to be a part of the president's efforts to combat climate change and put Americans back to work, both through the new renewable fuel standards and through our co-chairing of the Biofuels Working Group.

Advanced biofuels is a field that's emerging rapidly. EPA is committed to continuing its transparent, science-based approach to bring more renewable fuels to market while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We appreciate the hard work of our nation's farmers and ideas that support our goals for a clean environment and greater energy security. Information on the RFS program is at www.epa.gov/otaq/fuels/renewablefuels/index.htm

Sincerely,

Karl Brooks
EPA Region 7 administrator, Kansas City