South Dakota Senator Mike Rounds met with corn producers and officials of Dakota Ethanol at their plant in Wentworth yesterday. They showed him the advancements that are allowing them to produce corn ethanol more efficiently and with a lower carbon footprint. Rounds serves on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and says this is a message he’s going to take to EPA as they’re in the process of setting the Renewable Fuels Standard volumes for 2017.

Rounds says his Committee will pressure EPA to use sound science when setting ethanol levels because the agency has been ignoring the recommendations of their Science Advisory Board the last several years.

He says if EPA was doing their job it would be an easy decision to raise the renewable fuel mandates to the statutory level.

South Dakota Corn Growers Association President Keith Alverson says they’re pleased the Senator took the time to see how much ethanol production has changed since the RFS was originally written.

And they’re hopeful with Rounds’ leadership on the committee he’ll be able to influence EPA on the RFS.

The comment period has closed on the Renewable Fuels Standard for 2017 and now the industry awaits EPA’s decision.