POET LLC : POET-DSM responds to EPA’s proposed cellulosic ethanol targets for 2014
Source: POET-DSM News Release • Posted: Saturday, November 16, 2013
“Next year, for the first time in history, the U.S. will produce meaningful volumes of cellulosic ethanol. With a number of new plants ing online including POET-DSM’s Project LIBERTY, we can finally say that mercial cellulosic ethanol production has arrived.
“Unfortunately, the latest Renewable Volume Obligations from the EPA underestimate the volume of cellulosic ethanol that will be produced next year. We understand the intention to not overestimate capacity, but the proposed numbers released today hurt efforts to expand this cutting-edge technology and deny Americans new alternatives to fossil fuels. We ask the EPA to continue to engage closely with the cellulosic biofuels industry during the ment period so that we can demonstrate our confidence in our ability to scale up these processes so that the Final Rule uses the best information possible to support the growth of this new and important industry.
“Additionally, by cutting opportunities for grain ethanol producers and conceding arguments for maintaining the blend wall, the EPA takes away opportunities for cellulosic biofuel development. POET-DSM is already discussing cellulosic licensing options with other grain ethanol producers in an effort to grow our nation’s capacity to use new feedstocks for fuel production. Because this process takes advantage of synergies in infrastructure, transportation, feedstock logistics and other areas, the grain ethanol industry must remain strong in order to build cellulosic capacity. The poor signal from Washington today makes that work more challenging.