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RVO targets for cellulosic ethanol short-sighted

Growth Energy officials are raising concerns over the EPA’s Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) targets for cellulosic ethanol.

Chris Bliley, vice president of regulatory affairs for Growth Energy, calls the 2018 RVO number for the advanced biofuel a step backwards.

He cites production as a possible reason why the EPA used its cellulosic waiver authority to reduce the requirement from the statutory 11 billion gallons to below five billion.

“Cellulosic production is not where I think people had hoped it would be by now, and for a variety of reasons.  Part of it had to do actually with EPA freezing the volumes for several years, and that froze and chilled investment in the sector.”

Bliley tells Brownfield more cellulosic technology is becoming available.

“Corn kernel fiber is now a pathway that many plants are looking at, and that could come online pretty quickly.  It sort of gives existing plants a pathway forward to use some of their volume for cellulosic biofuels.”

 

Bliley says while Growth Energy is disappointed in the proposed RVO for cellulosic, they are pleased the EPA decided to maintain statutory levels for conventional ethanol.

The 2018 Renewable Volume Obligations were published in the Federal Register earlier this month, followed by a 45-day public comment period.

The final rule is expected by the end of November.