Pennsylvania lawmakers send letter to Trump on Renewable Identification Numbers

A group of Pennsylvania lawmakers led by Congressman Lou Barletta (R-PA) sent a letter last week to President Donald Trump expressing concerns about the impact of Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs), a provision of the renewable fuel standard (RFS), on the Pennsylvania economy.

The letter advocated for minimizing the price of RINs, adopting RIN market reforms to increase the liquidity of RINs, eliminating speculation in the market, preventing hoarding and continuing policies that aim to address harm to refineries without negatively affecting other refineries.

RINs are necessary to demonstrate compliance with the mandated use of ethanol in the fuel supply under the RFS program.

“Unemployment in Pennsylvania is down to 4.2 percent – the lowest point since 2007,” the congressmen wrote. “By adopting a balanced approach to RFS reforms with relief for refiners and creating a win-win solution for farmers, we believe our state can continue this historic economic growth. We applaud President Trump’s efforts to spur economic growth across the country, and believe that reforming the RFS in a way that protects Pennsylvania refineries, which directly employ over 2,000 workers, is entirely consistent with those efforts.”

Representatives Bill Shuster (R-PA), Ryan Costello (R-PA), Scott Perry (R-PA), and Keith Rothfus (R-PA) also signed the letter.

“I am proud to protect good-paying, family-sustaining jobs in Pennsylvania,” Barletta said. “Reforms to the RFS should not only benefit the agribusiness giants of the Midwest, and I will not stop fighting until there is a solution on the table that provides price certainty for our refineries.