EPA proposes cutting biofuels mandate for 2018

Source: The Hill | July 5, 2017 | Devin Henry

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing lower biofuel quotas in 2018 than those currently on the books and required by federal law.

Officials on Wednesday released their proposed 2018 biofuel requirements under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), which mandates how much ethanol and other biofuels refiners are required to be mixed into the gasoline and diesel fuel supplies.

The proposal would require refiners use 19.24 billion gallons of renewable fuels in 2018, slightly down from the 19.28 billion gallons required in 2017 and about 25 percent lower than the target Congress outlined in 2007. The RFS statue envisions blending 26 billion gallons of biofuel into the fuel supply in 2018.

EPA’s proposal maintains the 2017 blending requirements for both conventional, corned-based ethanol (15 billion gallons) and biomass diesel (2.1 billion gallons), but it lowers targets for cellulosic and advanced biofuels.

In a statement, the agency said it was proposing “volumes consistent with market realities.”

“Timely implementation provides certainty to American refiners, the agriculture community and broader fuels industry, all of which play an important role in the RFS program,” EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt said.

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