A total of 17 members of the US-based House Biofuels Caucus have urged the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to change its 2017 biofuels blend target from 14.8bn gallons to 15 billion gallons.

The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) was among several associations to submit comments in a letter to the EPA.

According to the association, there’s no justification for lowering the requirement, which would turn the RFS “into a stagnant, backward-facing policy.”

EPA’s recent proposal calls on refiners to blend 14.8 billion gallons of conventional biofuels in 2017, slightly below the 15-billion-gallon level envisioned by Congress when it expanded the RFS in 2007. Record levels of E10 consumption, broader availability of E15 and E85, more than 2 billion surplus renewable identification numbers and other factors make the statutory requirement readily achievable in 2017.

‘Back on track’

RFA president and CEO Bob Dinneen said: “We thank the lawmakers for their leadership to ensure EPA finalises a strong RFS that gets the program back on track.

“As the House members wrote, ‘a final rule that falls short of the conventional biofuel cap will do nothing to assuage critics of the program, while missing an opportunity to refocus on addressing the pressing issues needed to fully realise the potential renewable fuels can make for our economy and energy security.’ We couldn’t agree more.

“As we outlined in comments to EPA this week on its proposed 2017 RFS rule, there’s no justification for lowering the conventional biofuel target. Record levels of E10 consumption, broader availability of E15 and E85, more than 2 billion surplus renewable identification numbers and other factors make the statutory requirement readily achievable in 2017. It’s time EPA follows the statutory requirement and increase the conventional biofuel target to 15 billion gallons.”

 The letter signed by the Caucus members states: “Given the proven track record of innovation and capacity for development in the renewable fuels market, we believe that a final rule that falls short of the conventional biofuel cap will do nothing to assuage critics of the programme, while missing an opportunity to refocus on addressing the pressing issues needed to fully realise the potential renewable fuels can make for our economy and energy security.”

Read the original story: US House Biofuels Caucus Makes Final Plea for EPA to Increase Biofuel Target to 15bn Gallons