EPA's Final 2014 RVO Delivered To The OMB; Industry Reacts

Ethanol Producer Magazine

Aug 22, 2014

By Sussane Retka Schill

The U.S. EPA has finalized its 2014 renewable volume obligation (RVO) rule for the renewable fuels standard (RFS) and submitted it to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review on Friday, Aug. 22.

The publication of the proposed rule on Nov. 15 precipitated widespread concern in the ethanol industry and a large number of responses during the comment period. .

Industry leaders are optimistic the proposed will be modified  

“While we have not seen the rule, we hold strong in our belief that EPA and OMB will fulfill President Obama’s commitment to biofuels as a means of greater energy independence, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and wider availability of cost-saving alternative fuels for American consumers,” Bob Dinneen, president and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association, said in a statement. “This decision is about more than targets and gallons, it is about a rationale that places highest importance on the long term strength of this country and not the bottom line of oil companies.”

“While OMB has up to 90 days to review this rule, what is most important is the content of the final rule,” said Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy. “The renewable fuels industry has provided extensive comments highlighting how the proposed reduction in the 2014 RVO’s would be detrimental to the biofuels industry, the American consumer and our environment.  I hope that after reviewing these thorough comments, they will finalize a rule that moves our nation forward on the adoption of renewable fuels, not backwards.

“Ultimately, this final rule should promote the policy goals of the RFS and call for an increase in the production of renewable fuels, so we can continue to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, create jobs at home that cannot be outsourced and mitigate climate change, while we improve our environment. Furthermore, it is critical we have the support of the Administration to end the monopoly oil companies have on the liquid fuels marketplace and finally provide consumers with a choice and savings at the pump.”

From the American Coalition for Ethanol, Brian Jennings, executive vice president, provided this statement: “ACE members are pleased the 2014 RVO is now at OMB for interagency review and we continue to encourage the administration to finalize a rule that allows the RFS to work by incentivizing oil companies to blend above the E10 limit.  Anything short of that turns the keys to the RFS over to the oil companies and puts cellulosic biofuel at risk. While all stakeholders have waited a long time for the final rule, and it could take another 30 days or more for interagency review, getting the rule done right is far more important than getting it done quickly.” 

Read the original story here : EPA's Final 2014 RVO Delivered To The OMB; Industry Reacts