September 26, 2017
On Tuesday, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced they wanted comments for the potential options for reducing biofuels and renewable fuel volumes lower than those proposed in the 2018 Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).
The Notice of Data Availability (NODA) issued by the EPA outlined how the EPA could reduce the 2018 biofuel volume requirement from a proposed 4.24 billion gallons to 3.77 billion gallons, and the total renewable fuel volume requirement from a proposed 19.24 billion gallons to 18.77 billion gallons.
These proposed decreases are driven by concerns over biofuel imports.
Bob Dinneen, president and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association, issued a statement, explaining his continuing frustrations to the proposed cuts from the EPA. It reads in part:
“There is no rationale for further lowering either the 2018 advanced biofuel volume requirement or the total renewable fuel volume…We see no statutory basis whatsoever for attempting to limit biofuel imports through the use of a general waiver.”
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Ia.) expressed his concerns about the opportunity for the public to comment on the potential reductions. His statement reads in part:
“It’s outrageous that the EPA would change course and propose a reduction in renewable fuel volumes. This seems like a bait-and-switch from the EPA’s prior proposal and from assurances from the President himself and Cabinet secretaries in my office prior to conformation for their strong support of renewable fuels. That’s contrary to the goal of America first. I plan to press the Administration to drop this terrible plan.”
Read the original article: Grassley: Proposed Biofuel Reduction Seems Like "Bait-And-Switch"
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