EPA’s Senior Advisor for Agriculture Rod Snyder talked about the agency’s commitment to biofuels and the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) during an appearance Monday at the Ag Outlook Forum in Kansas City.

“In June, EPA finalized the largest renewable volume obligations in the history of the RFS,” said Snyder. “We project the new standard will require nearly seven billion RINS worth of advanced biofuels, including biomass-based diesel, in 2025. That’s a nearly 40 percent increase over the 2022 baseline.”

“For corn-based ethanol, the final rule sets targets at or above the 15 billion gallon statutory level for all three years, that had not been done prior to this administration…We estimate the RFS increases revenue for farmers by approximately 18 billion dollars every single year.”

Snyder was asked about the recent Science Advisory Board (SAB) report on the climate impacts of corn ethanol and the RFS, which was the topic at a hearing last week. Snyder first clarified that the SAB is an independent entity so the report is “not something that was initiated at the career or staff level.” Beyond that, he said, “everyone agrees that we need to do a better job of valuing the greenhouse gas benefits of various feedstocks…we’re appreciative of the SAB for raising the issue.”

Listen to Snyder’s comments related to biofuels from the Ag Outlook Forum
2023 Ag Outlook Forum - Rod Snyder, EPA 4:54