Biodiesel Industry Board Asks for Higher RFS Volumes
Source: By Todd Neeley, DTN/Progressive Farmer • Posted: Friday, November 17, 2017
OMAHA (DTN) — Just ahead of an expected release of the final Renewable Fuel Standard volumes for 2018, biodiesel industry officials are asking President Donald Trump to expand advanced biofuels and biomass-based diesel volumes above and beyond what the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed.
After reports surfaced in October that the EPA was considering a further reduction in RFS volumes, an outcry from Midwest lawmakers and others led EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt to withdraw the proposal. Pruitt said the agency would set the biomass-based diesel number to at least 2.1 billion gallons as proposed. The agency also has proposed setting the advanced biofuels number at 4.24 billion gallons.
The Trump administration continues to face pressure from both oil and biofuels interests over the RFS. The EPA’s final renewable volume obligations for 2018 are set for release by the end of November.
Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, who won the 2016 Iowa presidential caucuses, reportedly is prepared to hold up the confirmation of USDA nominee Bill Northey until the administration grants a meeting on the RFS with lawmakers from oil-producing states.
In a letter to the president on Thursday, however, directors of the National Biodiesel Board asked for an increase in the proposed volumes.
“Biodiesel supports roughly 64,000 jobs across the country, many in rural states, and has been a key source of tangible economic prosperity and development in these areas,” the letter said.
“To continue that economic growth, we urge your administration to increase the volumes required by the RFS from last year’s levels, preferably to at least 4.75 billion gallons for advanced biofuel for 2018 and at least 2.5 billion gallons for biomass-based diesel for 2019.”