WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Growth Energy and the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) today filed joint comments with exhibits in response to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Notice of Data Availability (NODA) published October 4, opposing several proposals.
“The biofuel reductions in the NODA would pave a path that would reverse the progress of the Renewable Fuel Standard and undercut the benefits our nation is currently gaining from the RFS – job creation, rural development, energy security, significant environmental benefits, and consumer cost savings,” Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor said.
“As we’ve seen in recent days, those who represent our rural communities and farmers know the significant benefits this program has and continues to provide, so we stand with them in support of strong and robust renewable fuel volumes that continue to move the program forward, not backward. We’re encouraged to know the White House is clearly paying close attention to this issue and hope that will indeed lead to the EPA abandoning these unjustified biofuel reductions and attempts to tie RINs to exports.”
The NODA proposed reductions in the 2018 Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) for biodiesel, advanced, and total renewable fuel including a proposal to reduce the biodiesel volume for 2018 by as much as 315 million gallons and the advanced and total renewable biofuels by 473 million gallons. Doing so would reduce the already too low 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).
“EPA’s proposal would chill investment at a time when more cellulosic and advanced biofuel capacity is poised to come online, as evidenced by the recent approval of a new cellulosic ethanol facility,” Brent Erickson, executive vice president, Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), said. “The agency should commit to setting 2018 standards that support continued growth of biofuel production and use.”
In their comments, Growth Energy and BIO also provided a legal analysis of how EPA’s latest proposed changes to the RFS run contrary to Congress’ goals and purposes in adopting the statute.
Additional key points from the comments including the following:
- Promotion of U.S. energy independence does not justify a waiver of the RFS volumes.
- Definition of domestic supply under the RFS for consideration of EPA’s waiver authority includes and has always included foreign-produced renewable fuel that is available to U.S. importers.
- EPA may not consider RIN costs when assessing their general waiver authority.
- EPA has no authority to carry through the reductions in advanced biofuel to total renewable fuel.
- EPA should follow its previous interpretations of the severe harm standard; there is no basis for a waiver of the 2018 volumes based on severe harm.
About Growth Energy
Growth Energy represents producers and
supporters of ethanol working to bring consumers better choices at the
fuel pump, grow America's economy and improve the environment for future
generations. Our organization's national campaign — online at GetEthanol.com
— serves as the leading source of information for consumers seeking
cleaner, more affordable fueling options. For more information on our
organization, visit us at GrowthEnergy.org,
follow us on Twitter @GrowthEnergy,
or connect with us on Facebook.
About BIO
BIO is the world's largest trade association
representing biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state
biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States
and in more than 30 other nations. BIO members are involved in the
research and development of innovative healthcare, agricultural,
industrial and environmental biotechnology products. BIO also produces
the BIO
International Convention, the world’s largest gathering of the
biotechnology industry, along with industry-leading investor and
partnering meetings held around the world. BIOtechNOW
is BIO's blog chronicling “innovations transforming our world” and the
BIO Newsletter is the organization’s bi-weekly email newsletter. Subscribe
to the BIO Newsletter.
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