On March 18, 2015, Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) introduced S. 791, "The American Energy Renaissance Act of 2015." Representative Jim Bridenstine (R-OK) introduced companion legislation, H.R. 1487. The legislation would phase out the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), approve the Keystone XL pipeline, open Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil and gas exploration, and stop EPA from regulating GHG emissions. Under the bill, the RFS would start to be phased out in 2016 with a 20 percent reduction in the volumetric requirements proposed by EPA. The 20 percent reductions would continue each year until 2020 when the requirements would reach zero.

The legislation is unlikely to pass, but it is another example of the ongoing RFS fight in Congress. The majority of the biofuels industry is united in its advocacy to maintain the current RFS law, while the oil industry, among others, has been fighting for its repeal.

[View source.]