News

RFA applauds EPA move to increase RVO, restore RFS integrity

A leader in the ethanol industry says increasing biofuel blending requirements restores integrity to the Renewable Fuel Standard and will help lower prices at the pump.

Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper says EPA’s announcement provides clarity and predictability. “All in all, we see this is as a very positive package for the industry.  We think it goes along way toward putting the RFS back on track and really cleaning up some of the big messes that the previous administration made on this program.”

EPA says it’s setting the 2022 Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) at 15 billion gallons of renewable fuel and more than 5 billion gallons of biofuels. The agency is restoring the first 250 million gallons that were waived in the 2016 RVO.

He tells Brownfield EPA is also denying 69 small refinery exemptions that the Trump administration granted. “It is the last nail in the coffin to that program. We do not expect the EPA to be handing out any further exemptions to small refiners and really setting a new direction and tone for that program.  We’re very excited to see that as well.”

Cooper says it also benefits consumers. “We’re going to see that reflected in lower prices at the pump, especially for those higher blends like E15 and E85.  At the same time, you’re getting reduced emissions.”

But, Cooper says, the agency is reopening and retroactively lowering RFS requirements for 2020, which is misguided and unnecessary.

EPA Administrator Michael Regan says the requirements reduce dependence on foreign oil and puts the RFS back on track after years of mismanagement.

Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor says the announcement sets a baseline for strong future biofuel blending levels for 2023 and beyond.

Brian Jennings, American Coalition for Ethanol CEO, says the RFS is EPA’s only tool to replace foreign fossil fuels and asks the agency to leverage the program to its full potential to lower fuel prices.

Clean Fuels Alliance America’s Kurt Kovarik says the requirements get the RFS back on track and is a kickstart for future growth.

National Corn Growers Association President Chris Edgington says higher volumes increases and diversifies the American fuel supply to help reduce prices and improve greenhouse gas emissions.

Brad Doyle, American Soybean Association President, says the announcement is a sign of support for the RFS going into 2023 and appreciates the administration’s commitment to not allowing SRE’s miss blending requirements.