The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a proposed rule under the Renewable Fuel Standards (RFS) program that would set the minimum amount of renewable fuels that must be supplied to the market in calendar year 2019, as well as the biomass based diesel volume standard for calendar year 2020. As SWANA has done previously, joint comments will be submitted with other organizations associated with promoting biogas-derived cellulosic biofuels, including The Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas and the National Waste and Recycling Association.
The EPA has proposed 381 million gallons for cellulosic biofuel in 2019 compared to 288 million gallons in 2018, and a total advanced biofuel volume of 4.88 billion gallons, which represents an almost 600-million-gallon increase from the previous year.
The comments will support EPA’s proposal to the extent it provides for increased cellulosic and advanced volume requirements compared to 2018. EPA will be urged to promote biofuels by facilitating expedited registration processes and pathway approvals and to protect against undermining the volume requirements.
The comments will also recognize improvements made in the methodology used to set the growth rate, and will urge restraint from further methodology changes in favor of stability while EPA and stakeholders observe actual production compared to the methodology’s projected volume.
This Alert serves as notification of the intention to submit these comments to EPA, as well as a request for any feedback or questions by COB Thursday, August 16. The final version of the submitted comments can be found here.
The Clean Air Act requires EPA to set annual RFS volumes of biofuels that must be used for transportation fuel for four categories of biofuels: total, advanced, cellulosic, and biomass-based diesel. EPA uses tools provided by Congress to adjust the standards below the statutory targets based on current market realities. EPA implements the RFS program in consultation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Energy.
If these changes will affect you or your business, SWANA requests feedback or questions COB Thursday, August 16. Please contact the Hoosier Chapter to get in touch with SWANA.
