Posted November 14, 2013
Biofuel producers and gasoline refiners are anxiously awaiting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) release of the 2014 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), according to an article by the National Journal available here.
A leaked draft of the proposal showed the agency might reduce the target for renewable fuels from the statutory requirement of 18.15 billion gallons to 15.21 billion gallons next year.
“Groups within the biofuel industry are fully committed to challenging the rule in court if the EPA changes how it implements the standard,” said Paul Winters, communications director for the Biotechnology Industry Organization. “We want to see the targets continue to be set at the highest achievable level.”
EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy made a statement last month, emphasizing that “no decisions would be made until all stake holders had an opportunity to provide input.”
The oil industry has responded that the possible draft target is too high. Bob Greco, downstream group director for the American Petroleum Institute said, “If the draft is accurate and the proposal mirrors that, we think that EPA would be on the right track, but we think they should go further to lower the ethanol requirements.”
The rumored cut to the RFS standard is due to a decreased use of gasoline, according to a KELO Land article available here.
For more information on renewable energy, please visit the National Agricultural Law Center’s website here.
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