WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, Growth Energy, the nation’s largest biofuels trade association, expressed disappointment in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) final rule on Multi-Pollutant Emissions Standards for Model Years 2027 and Later Light-Duty and Medium-Duty Vehicles.
“Since this rule was proposed last April, the Biden administration has heard loud and clear that it would be a mistake to ignore biofuels – a proven, abundant, and American-made solution to reduce emissions,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “The final rule offers automakers some limited flexibility, but it fails to include any meaningful changes to ensure we’re not leaving biofuels on the sidelines.
“Experts worldwide agree that EVs alone cannot get us to a net-zero future. We need carbon savings within liquid fuels, and that requires a bigger role for American bioethanol. It’s baffling to see EPA accept a false choice between only two paths forward – fossil-fuel-only vehicles or mass adoption of EVs. Neither outcome reflects reality, and we’ll continue to work with our allies in Congress and across the heartland to demand a course correction that harnesses the full power of America’s low-carbon bioeconomy.”
Background
In April 2023, EPA released its Multi-Pollutant Emissions Standards for Model Years 2027 and Later Light-Duty and Medium-Duty Vehicles. Growth Energy responded to the initial proposal and then, in May, testified at a public hearing hosted by EPA on its tailpipe emissions proposal.
Growth Energy specifically called on EPA to:
- Accelerate the deployment of E15 nationwide;
- Approve and adopt high-octane, midlevel bioethanol blends like E30;
- Expand access to Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) in conjunction with use of E85; and
- Conduct a complete lifecycle analysis for EVs and internal combustion engine vehicles using the Argonne GREET model.
In formal comments to the agency, Growth Energy called on EPA to address its failure to leverage the role that biofuels continue to play in decarbonizing the transportation sector and to ensure that the lifecycle GHG emission profiles of all relevant technologies potentially governed by the rule are accurately determined.