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Biofuels Caucus tells EPA to account for volumes lost to RFS waivers

The Biofuels Caucus is trying to hold the EPA accountable for volumes lost to small refinery exemptions.

The bipartisan group of 25 congressmen and women sent a letter to EPA Administrator Wheeler last week demanding the agency reallocate waived gallons of ethanol and biodiesel when issuing Renewable Volume Obligations (RVO’s) for 2020 and 2021.

Minnesota Congresswoman Angie Craig, a member of the Biofuels Caucus, tells Brownfield the Trump Administration is choosing oil executives over family farmers and the renewable fuels industry.

“I’d love to see us actually enforce these provisions and make sure our corn growers are able to have the billions of additional bushels they would’ve sold if not for these oil waivers to what we call small refineries. But the last time I checked, Exxon wasn’t that small.”

Renewable Fuels Association CEO Geoff Cooper thanked the Biofuels Caucus for the letter, saying “these elected leaders understand that the Renewable Fuel Standard is an important tool for economic growth, energy security and greenhouse gas reduction.”

Cooper adds the EPA has a legal obligation to account for the impact of refinery waivers in determining annual RVO’s.