November 13, 2024
BY Erin Voegele
The U.S. EPA on Nov. 12 delivered a proposed rule to the White House Office of Management and Budget pertaining to the Renewable Fuel Standard. The title of the proposal indicates the rule would waive a portion of the 2024 cellulosic renewable volume obligation (RVO) and offer an extension of the 2024 compliance deadline.
No details have been released on the specific provisions included in the proposed rule. The OMB listing does not offer an estimate of when the proposed rule could be published for public comment or finalized.
RFS regulations allow the EPA to waive cellulosic RVOs when production falls short of the agency’s projections. The American Fuel & Petrochemicals Manufacturers on Nov. 1 petitioned the EPA to waive a portion of the cellulosic biofuel RVO for RFS compliance year 2024. AFPM issued a similar petition in late 2023 seeking a partial waiver of compliance year 2023 cellulosic biofuel RVOs. The EPA in March 2024 denied that petition.
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Additional information is available on the OMB website.
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More than 1.76 billion renewable identification numbers (RINs) were generated under the Renewable Fuel Standard in January, down from 1.91 billion generated during the same period of 2024, according to data released by the U.S. EPA on Feb. 20.
The U.S. EPA on Feb. 20 released updated small refinery exemption (SRE) data showing that 13 previously denied SRE petitions for Renewable Fuel Standard compliance years 2021 and 2022 are being reconsidered. No new SRE petitions were filed.
A coalition of biofuel, agriculture, fuel retailer and petroleum trade groups on Feb. 19 sent a letter to U.S. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin urging the agency to set robust, timely, multiyear RFS RVOs for 2026 and beyond.
CVR Energy Inc. released fourth quarter financial results on Feb. 18, reporting reduced renewable diesel production. The company also said it is pausing development of SAF capacity pending clarity on government subsidies.
CARB on Feb. 18 announced that amendments to its LCFS program that were approved in November 2024 have been put on hold following the California Office of Administrative Law’s decision to disapprove the amendments due to clarity issues.