Comment period officially opens on 2020-’21 RFS proposal
The U.S. EPA published its proposed rule to set Renewable Fuel Standard 2020 renewable volume obligations (RVOs) and the 2021 RVO for biomass-based diesel in the Federal Register July 29, officially opening a public comment period. Comments on the proposal can be filed through Aug. 30.
The EPA released a prepublication version of the rulemaking on July 5. The rule proposes to require 20.04 billion gallons of renewable fuels to be blended with the U.S. fuel supply next year, up from 19.92 billion gallons in 2019. The proposed RVO includes 5.04 billion gallons of advanced biofuels, 2.43 billion gallons of biomass-based diesel, and 540,000 gallons of cellulosic fuel. The 2020 RVO for biomass-based diesel was finalized in a separate rulemaking last year. The rulemaking also proposes to set the 2021 RVO for biomass-based diesel at 2.43 billion gallons, level with the 2020 RVO.
When compared to the 2019 RVOs, the proposal would increase the RVO for cellulosic biofuel by 120 million gallons. Due the nested nature of the RFS RVOs, the implied RVOs for advanced biofuel and renewable fuel would remain at the 2019 level.
The EPA is scheduled to holding a public hearing on the proposal July 31 at the Ann Arbor Marriott Ypsilanti at Eagle Crest in Ypsilanti, Michigan, starting at 9:00 a.m. Eastern. The agency has provided a call-in number for those who are unable to attend the event but would like to listen to testimony delivered during the hearing.
Written comments on the proposed rule can filed online through Aug. 30 on www.Regulations.gov under Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2019-0136.
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