Governors' Biofuels Coalition

Word on the street is that EPA will release the final rule setting biofuel blending requirements this week. Expect the numbers to be pretty close to what it proposed in June — 19.88 billion total gallons, including 15 billion gallons of conventional ethanol. Despite expectations for a release next week, the agency has in the past dropped the final rule the day before Thanksgiving, so everyone should stay on their toes for news.

Speaking of: Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley responded to a Reuters report Tuesday night that EPA is expected to propose new targets for the final three years of the RFS in January with volumes closer to the industry’s output. If the reports are accurate, Grassley said in a statement, EPA may now use the “weakened state” of the program after issuing hardship waivers to “justify gutting” it further. Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler is now “in a position to avoid the missteps and abuses of power of his predecessor at the agency,” he said.

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