In a letter to seven senators sent late Thursday, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt committed to final 2018 Renewable Fuel Standard renewable volume obligations at levels equal or greater to those that the agency proposed in July, as well as a commitment to finalize the rule by the Nov. 30 statutory deadline. In the letter, Pruitt also announced EPA will finalize a decision within the next 30 days to deny a change to the point of obligation for compliance with the RFS, the agency will “actively explore” whether it has the legal authority to approve year-round access to E15 and the agency will not take action on a rumored proposal to allow ethanol exports to count towards RFS compliance.
Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob Dinneen had the following response:
“The U.S. ethanol industry is grateful for Administrator Pruitt’s epiphany on the road to the RFS. We look forward to working with EPA to preserve and grow the RFS, encourage innovation in the production and marketing of biofuels, and secure common sense reform in the regulations that have kept higher octane ethanol fuels from being sold year round. As for the members of Congress, governors, and others who advocated so strongly for farmers and consumers, we thank you profusely.”