WASHINGTON, D.C. — Growth Energy is calling on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to uphold the goals of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) following the agency’s release of a Notice of Data Availability concerning potential further reductions in the 2018 Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) for biodiesel, advanced, and total renewable fuel.
EPA is proposing to reduce the biodiesel volume for 2018 by as much as 315 million gallons and effectively carry through those volumes to further reduce the proposed volumes of advanced and total renewable biofuels by 473 million gallons. Growth Energy says doing so would reduce the 2018 advanced RVO to 3.77 billion gallons (down from 4.24 billion proposed) and would drop the total renewable fuel volume to 18.77 billion gallons (down from 19.24 billion proposed).
“For this Administration to begin taking steps backward after making so many declarations of support for renewable fuels is alarming, and our industry urges the EPA to move forward, not backward on the RFS. While these are significant reductions, they do not decrease the expected 15 billion gallons of conventional biofuel in the RVO; however, we have significant concerns that this action indicates that the EPA may backpedal on the promise and growth of the RFS,” Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor said.
“The RFS was passed with the intent to lower our nation’s dependence on foreign oil, keep our air clean, revitalize rural America, and provide consumers with more affordable fuel options at the pump. This shows a clear willingness from the EPA to reverse course and abandon the goals and promise of more renewable fuel blending in the RFS.”
Press contact:
Chris Hogan
202.545.4000
CHogan@growthenergy.org