Mikulski, Cardin ask EPA to relax corn-to-fuel rule

WASHINGTON — Maryland Sen. Barbara Mikulski says she is among a group of senators asking the Environmental Protection Agency to relax renewable fuel standards to require less corn. Mikulski says that will help ease corn supply shortages caused by drought conditions this year.

Mikulski says other senators signing the letter include Maryland Sen. Ben Cardin, and Delaware Sens. Chris Coons and Thomas Carper.

Mikulski says Maryland’s poultry growers have been deeply affected by extreme weather this summer that has pushed corn yields lower. That has raised prices for corn, which has caused animal feed prices to rise. Last week, House lawmakers also asked the EPA to relax rules requiring a percentage of the corn crop go to making ethanol.