The Biden administration is taking action to ensure American consumers have uninterrupted access this summer to gasoline containing 15 percent ethanol (E15). To make E15 available in the summer, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to issue a national, emergency waiver. Without this action, E15 cannot be used in most of the country from June 1st to September 15th, …
EPA Denies Waivers But Still Gives Refiners a Break
The Environmental Protection Agency Thursday announced the denial of 36 small refinery exemptions (SRE) for the 2018 compliance year. The petitions were remanded to EPA by the U.S. Court of Appeals. At the same time, EPA announced an “alternate compliance approach” that allows 31 of those small refineries to meet their new 2018 compliance obligations “without purchasing or redeeming additional …
Senators Press EPA Administrator on E15
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan appeared before the Environment and Public Works Committee Wednesday to talk about the agency’s budget request, but some senators wanted to know what he was going to do and when he was going to do it to make E15 (15% ethanol fuel) available in the summer months this year. Both Sens. Joni Ernst …
Groups Urge EPA to Use GREET Model
Ethanol organizations submitting feedback to the the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) request for comment on the current scientific understanding of greenhouse gas (GHG) are asking for an update. Both the Renewable Fuels Association and the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) recommend the agency adopt the Argonne National Laboratory GREET model, calling it the “gold standard” of lifecycle models. “The Agency’s …
UN Advisor Tells EPA Ethanol Reduces GHG Emissions
EPA hosted a virtual public workshop on biofuel greenhouse gas (GHG) modeling last week and heard from a number of experts, including Reid Detchon, Senior Advisor for Climate Solutions for the United Nations Foundation, who urged EPA to “stop dwelling on uncertainties in greenhouse gas (GHG) modeling and accept the extensive work that has already been conducted by the federal …
EPA Official Speaks to Ethanol Conference
It was 12 years ago that Sarah Dunham, EPA’s Office of Transportation and Air Quality Director, spoke to the Renewable Fuels Association’s National Ethanol Conference in Orlando. EPA’s rules for the expanded Renewable Fuel Standard had just been issued and 2022 seemed like a very long time in the future. This week, she addressed the conference again to talk about …
House Members Urge Support for RFS
U.S. Representative Angie Craig (D-MN) led several co-chairs of the Congressional Biofuels Caucus in sending a letter urging the Biden Administration to take steps to protect and strengthen the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The letter encouraged EPA Administrator Michael Regan to maintain the blending requirements for 2022, deny all pending Small Refinery Exemptions (SREs), reconsider proposed retroactive cuts to previously …
Clean Fuels Comments on EPA RFS Proposals
Clean Fuels Alliance America submitted comments supporting the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposal to deny pending small refinery exemptions while asking for certainty regarding proposed Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Volume Standards for 2020, 2021 and 2022. Clean Fuels expressed particular concern with EPA’s triggering “reset” authority and proposals for regulating biointermediates. Kurt Kovarik, Clean Fuels’ Vice President of Federal Affairs, writes …
Coalition Urges RFS Update for Sustainable Aviation Fuel
Membersof the Business Aviation Coalition for Sustainable Aviation Fuel are urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide greater opportunities for the development of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). In a letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan in response to a request for comments on a proposed RFS rule, the Business Aviation Coalition for …
Ethanol Groups Submit Comments on Proposed RVOs
Ethanol organizations submitted comments to the Environmental Protection Agency Friday on its Proposed Volume Standards for 2020, 2021, and 2022 under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The Renewable Fuels Association expressed strong support for the agency’s proposed 2022 renewable volume obligations (RVO) while opposing the proposed retroactive reduction of the previously finalized 2020 RVO requirements. RFA President and CEO Geoff …