The comment period for the EPA’s proposed volume obligations for biofuels under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) has officially ended and stakeholders in both the biodiesel and ethanol industries made their voices heard. The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) submitted comments “urging the agency to finalize the RVOs that were included in EPA’s first draft of the proposal that was submitted …
Ethanol Report on EPA Hearing and Court Decision
Last week’s court decision on what EPA can consider when setting volume obligations for biofuels under the Renewable Fuel Standard was still fresh in mind as the industry provided feedback on the agency’s most recent proposals for next year during a public hearing in Washington D.C. this week. In this edition of The Ethanol Report podcast, Renewable Fuels Association president …
Strong Biodiesel Turnout at EPA Hearing
The biodiesel industry turned out in force Tuesday to advocate for higher volumes of advanced biofuels and biomass-based diesel. National Biodiesel Board CEO Donnell Rehagen says the EPA proposal would maintain the minimum required biomass-based diesel volumes at 2.1 billion gallons for 2019 but decrease the 2018 RFS for advanced biofuels to 4.24 billion gallons. “That’s our sweet spot,” said …
Comment Period Open for RFS Volume Obligations
The Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed volume requirements for cellulosic biofuel, advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel for 2017, and requirements for biomass-based diesel for 2019, was published in the Federal Register Friday, officially opening the comment period on the proposal. Comments must be received on or before August 31, 2017. EPA is also planning a public hearing on the proposal …
Industry Preparing for August 1 EPA Hearing
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold a public hearing in Washington, DC on Tuesday, August 1 for the recently released proposed rule for volume levels of ethanol and biodiesel under the Renewable Fuel Standard for 2018 and 2019. As with previous RFS hearings, all of the major stakeholders are planning to attend and let EPA know what they like …
Industry Reacts to Proposed Biofuels Levels
The ethanol industry and corn farmers are pleased, but biodiesel producers and soybean growers are not so much with new proposed levels for biofuels under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) released by the Environmental Protection Agency. The 2018 RFS level for conventional biofuels, including corn ethanol, was maintained at 15 billion gallons, the maximum under current law, which Renewable Fuels …
NBB Submits Regulatory Comments to EPA
The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) submitted comments this week to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in response to a call for input on burdensome regulations. NBB provided comments on five subjects: (1) funding for additional guidance and compliance assistance, (2) RFS implementing regulations, (3) the proposed Renewable Enhancement and Growth Support (REGS) rule, (4) Product Transfer Documents (PTD) and (5) …
Ethanol Groups Comment on EPA Regs
Eliminating the unnecessary regulatory barrier to year-round sales of E15 tops the wish list of reforms that the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) requested from the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) in comments to the agency Monday. “While there are a number of EPA regulations that need reforming, the most pressing is the agency-imposed restriction that denies consumers year-round access to E15,” …
ACE Urges Ethanol Regulatory Comments
The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) was among the first in line to submit regulatory reform comments to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – now they are urging other ethanol advocates to do so. Among the topics ACE is urging ethanol advocates to address include Reid vapor pressure (RVP) relief for E15 and higher ethanol blends, updating the lifecycle analysis …
Biofuels Stakeholders Comment on Oral Arguments
The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) presented oral arguments to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit Monday on the petition for review of the Renewable Volume Obligations for 2014-2016 filed by Americans for Clean Energy, et al. v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in January 2016. The NBB challenged EPA’s interpretation and use of its waiver authority …