Representatives Donald M. Payne, Jr. (NJ-10), and Ruben Gallego (AZ-07), along with 16 other members of the House, last week wrote a letter to EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt supporting increased blending targets for cellulosic biofuels and biodiesel in the final 2018 Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs). The members represent largely urban and minority populated districts around the country.

“Cellulosic ethanol is the lowest carbon biofuel in the world today…reducing greenhouse gas emissions over 90 percent,” they wrote to Administrator Pruitt. “Urban areas and communities of color are disproportionately affected by air pollution and will withstand the worst of the effects of your proposed rule.”

Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor thanked the “champions in Congress who are working hard to ensure that the RFS continues to deliver savings and health benefits to communities in all regions of the country. Increasing the volumes for cellulosic and advanced biofuels is essential to ensure that producers and stakeholders will have the certainty they need to continue to invest in cellulosic technology.”

EPA is expected to release the final RVO numbers by the end of this month.