Biofuel Industry Leaders Push for Higher Renewable Fuel Standards

Members of the renewable natural gas industry published an open letter to EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler urging the agency to raise the U.S. renewable volume obligation for cellulosic biofuel from its current proposed volume.

More than 40 members of the industry are requesting the EPA raise the volume obligation for this fuel type to 650 million gallons, up from the recently proposed 540 million, according to the letter. The letter cites the benefits of the Renewable Fuel Standard program as a key reason, particularly the cellulosic fuel portion, claiming it "provides a vital framework that is helping foster positive energy, economic, and environmental outcomes."

Members of the RNG industry also site growing metrics, unaccounted for production, and small refinery exemption corrections, as factors the EPA must consider when evaluating adjustments to the scale of the Renewable Fuel Standard Program.