Over 140 witnesses provided feedback to the Environmental Protection Agency Tuesday on the agency’s recent proposed volume obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), with the majority supporting renewable fuels.
Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob Dinneen thanked EPA for proposing to maintain the 15 billion gallon requirement for conventional renewable fuels in its 2018 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) rule but urged the agency to increase its proposed cellulosic ethanol requirement to reflect growing bolt-on technologies at existing ethanol plants.
Audio file: RFA CEO Bob Dinneen remarks at EPA hearing
The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) had at least 20 witnesses testify before the EPA to advocate for higher volumes of advanced biofuels and biomass-based diesel, including CEO Donnell Rehagen. 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, a decrease from 4.28 billion.
Audio file: Interview with NBB CEO Donnell Rehagen at EPA hearing
Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts and Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds took part in a press conference during the hearing with other supporters, including Jan Koninckx, DuPont Industrial Biosciences; Brent Erickson, BIO Industrial & Environmental Section; Keith Alverson, National Corn Growers Association farmer from S.D.; Brooke Coleman, Advanced Biofuels Business Council; and Chris Bliley, Growth Energy.
Audio file: Fuels America Press Conference