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Minnesota DFL Rep. Collin Peterson said he supports the EPA's decision not to reduce the federal ethanol mandate.

The EPA denied a request from Texas that it reduce the amount of biofuels required to be blended into gas.

Texas claimed the Renewable Fuel Standard, or RFS, which this year requires 9 billion gallons of biofuels to be mixed with gas, was driving up the cost of food.

The EPA says the higher prices of food and animal feed are not enough to cause severe economic or environmental harm. Peterson chairs the U.S. House Agriculture Committee.

"The reality is that this has to be done if we're going to finally rid ourselves of foreign oil. I'm not saying that ethanol is the only solution, but it is part of the solution and a big part of the solution, I think," Peterson said.

Peterson acknowledges high corn prices are a problem for livestock producers, but predicts the market will balance out.

Minnesota Farmers Union President, Doug Peterson, agrees that America needs to work on second-generation ethanol derived from sources other than corn.

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Minnesota DFL Rep. Collin Peterson said he supports the EPA's decision not to reduce the federal ethanol mandate.


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