The Environmental Protection Agency released its proposal for 2019 biofuel obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Tuesday, maintaining the statutory level for corn ethanol while increasing advanced biofuels, but failing to address the small refinery exemptions that have decimated demand and effectively lowered the required amount of biofuels to be blended.
Under the proposed rule, conventional renewable fuel volumes would be maintained at the implied 15-billion gallon target set by Congress for 2019, the advanced biofuel standard would be increased by almost 600 million gallons over the 2018 standard – including an increase of 100 million gallons for the cellulosic biofuel standard and a 330 million gallon increase for the biomass-based diesel standard for 2020.
Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen reacts to the proposal in this interview: Interview with RFA CEO Bob Dinneen on EPA 2019 RVO proposal
Growth Energy vice president of regulatory affairs Chris Bliley reacts to the proposal in this interview: Interview with Chris Bliley, Growth Energy, on EPA 2019 RVO proposal