Biodiesel Industry Mobilizes to Respond to Proposed RFS Cuts

The biodiesel industry mobilized to respond to a notice from U.S. EPA announced Sept. 26 calling for comments on a proposal to further reduce the renewable volume obligations under the 2018 and 2019 Renewable Fuel Standard. The Notice of Data Availability requested comments on the possibility of deeper cuts to the RFS than the levels in its July 21 proposed rule and triggered a new 15-day comment period that closes 15 calendar days after its formal posting in the Federal Register.

“The EPA’s proposal earlier this summer was inadequate, underestimating the power of domestic biodiesel production and ignoring the intent of the law,” said Doug Whitehead, chief operating officer of the National Biodiesel Board. “This additional request for comment is even more disappointing. It is critical that our members, champions in Congress and stakeholders again demonstrate to EPA the industry’s proven success record and capacity for continued growth. There will be serious impacts to the tens of thousands of American biodiesel workers who were promised that this administration had their back.”

Along with NBB’s formal comments, stakeholder comments can also be submitted to EPA through NBB’s Fueling Action Center found at www.biodiesel.org. In addition to this coordinated effort to generate comments to EPA, NBB is engaging stakeholders and arming champions in Congress with the data to correct EPA and working directly with the administration.

“What’s most frustrating is it appears that EPA has not bothered to look at the facts we’ve put before them in our formal comments on the original proposal for the RFS—facts that support higher volumes of biodiesel and other advanced biofuels,” said Donnell Rehagen, NBB CEO. “This is not the first year the biodiesel industry has been without the tax credit, or the first year there’s been uncertainty in the biodiesel industry. But every year we have prevailed, providing volumes above and beyond the requirements.”

The EPA’s Notice of Data Availability requested comments on options for reductions in the 2018 biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuel and total renewable fuel volumes.