Senate infrastructure bill’s tunnel vision on EVs misses carbon-reduction opportunity with biofuels

The U.S. Senate passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Aug. 10 providing funding for road and bridge repairs and broadband access. The bill also included $7.5 billion in funding for an electric vehicle (EV) charger network while ignoring infrastructure needs to increase consumer access to higher blends of biofuels.

“The singular focus on EVs instead of carbon reduction is hurting the environment, the Midwest economy and farmers specifically,” said Monte Shaw, executive director of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association. “Biofuels like ethanol and biodiesel made here in Iowa are reducing carbon emissions by roughly 50 percent or more today. And unlike EVs, biofuels are on the path to being carbon negative in less than a decade. Coastal elites should embrace multiple solutions to our environmental challenges instead of the D.C.-based ‘one size fits all’ approach. This was a huge missed opportunity to expand consumer access to low-cost, low-carbon fuels for vehicles actually on the roads today.”

Although Shaw is disappointed with the outcome, he thanked biofuel champions like Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst for bringing amendments forward to address the concerns of farmers and biofuel producers.

“While these amendments were not allowed a vote in the Senate, we’ll continue to work with Iowa’s delegation to push for pro-biofuel changes when the bill goes to the House,” Shaw said.