WASHINGTON, Jan. 8, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) President Chet Thompson reacts to reports of the legal challenge by biofuel producers to the Environmental Protection Agency's use of its general waiver authority to lower renewable volume obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard:

"AFPM fully supports EPA's decision to use its waiver authority to adjust the RFS volume mandates to reflect the E10 blend wall, vehicle and engine warranty restrictions, and overwhelming consumer rejection of higher-ethanol fuels. We are confident that the D.C. Circuit will uphold EPA's legal authority to do so. It is long overdue for Congress to repeal this broken program and for the biofuels industry to stand or fall on its own, without government subsidies. But in the meantime, it is clear that EPA has the authority to adjust unrealistic mandates to account for market realities. This lawsuit is yet another attempt by the ethanol industry to use government mandates to force higher percentage ethanol blends upon consumers."

CONTACT: media@afpm.org