citlnitrd ~tatrs ~rnatr

WASHINGTON, DC 20510

November 8, 2013
Dear Colleague,
The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) was enacted in the 2007 Energy Independence and Security
Act to require steadily increasing contributions from biofuels in our highway transportation fuels
markets. Since then, contributions from biofuels have increased from about 7 billion gallons in
2007 to more than 14 billion gallons in 2012. In its August 6, 2013 announcement of the
mandated volume requirements for 2013, the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA)
stated that, because of biofuel supply and market constraints, they anticipated making
adjustments to the 2014 biofuel volume mandates, including adjustments to the advanced biofuel
and the total renewable fuel categories.
We invite you and your staff to a briefing focused on the factors behind EPA' s anticipated
decision as well as other issues related to the RFS. The briefing, entitled "Through the Blend
Wall or Not: Policy Options and Impacts" will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2013 at 2:00
p.m. in the Senate Visitor Center (SVC) 215. Key experts will lead presentations and
discussions on biofuels' supply and demand, market conditions and the El 0 blend wall, higher
ethanol blends, feedstock supplies, and the status and outlook for advanced biofuels production.
This briefing will present valuable information on our nation's renewable fuels sector as we
consider transportation and fuels' sector strategies in the future.
The briefing is hosted by Iowa State University's Bioeconomy Institute in collaboration with
Iowa's Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR).
Background information is provided at:
http://www. i owaepscor.org/research/energy/policy/briefings.
For additional information, please contact Jill Euken at 712-249-0335 or jeuken@iastate.edu.
Sincerely,

Tom Harkin
United States Senator

CREW FOIA 2014-006851-0001190