The Environmental Protection Agency’s recent “consideration of drastic, unprecedented changes to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFA)” would undermine the future growth of the biofuels industry, the Renewable Fuels Association and 10 other biofuel groups wrote today to President Trump. In the letter, the groups urged the president to ensure the administration remains firm in its commitment to the U.S. biofuels industry.
In July, EPA proposed to reduce the total 2018 RFS renewable fuel blending requirements below the levels required in 2017 and late last month, the agency said it was considering further reductions to the 2018 RFS volumes. This is in addition to rumors that EPA is considering a proposal in which U.S. biofuel export volumes would count towards compliance with the RFS.
“If the proposed changes are finalized, EPA’s actions would cause severe harm to our industry, undermining your efforts to drive economic growth and secure America’s status as the global leader in biofuel production. We urge you to act quickly to continue to grow the RFS….” the groups wrote.
In the letter, the group clarified that they oppose any weakening of the 15 billion gallons conventional biofuel requirement, believe the proposed reduction of the 2018 advanced biofuel requirement is unwarranted and the current treatment of imports and exports under the RFS should be maintained.
“President Trump has been a strong and consistent supporter of fuel ethanol generally and the RFS specifically,” said RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen. “However, recent proposals by EPA appear to run counter to the president’s renewable energy vision. We want to ensure a strong RFS is maintained, providing consumers with the cleanest, lowest cost and highest octane fuel on the planet.”
To view a copy of the letter, visit http://www.ethanolrfa.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/POTUSletterOct3.pdf.