Growth Energy is calling on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to chart a “major course correction on annual biofuel targets.”

The proposed rule raises the total 2019 Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) by 3 percent over the 2018 requirement, and maintains a 15-billion-gallon requirement for conventional biofuels like corn ethanol, but does nothing to address the 2.25 billion gallons worth of small refinery exemptions granted by EPA in the past year.

“The numbers themselves are good, but those numbers are meaningless if you’re going to waive billions of gallons (of biofuels),” said Growth Energy Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Chris Bliley who testified on behalf of the organization at hearing Wednesday in Michigan.

In its proposed rule, the agency declined to accept comments on the controversial waiver program or Reid Vapor Pressure restrictions on E15, but that did not stop ethanol stakeholders from bringing it up in comments. “We thought that was absolutely absurd,” said Bliley. “There’s no way they can’t take comment. This is a public forum and people can comment as they wish.”

Bliley says they are hoping Acting EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler “provides a fair forum for biofuel producers and for farmers.”