Brian Jennings, CEO of the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), issued the following statement on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) final Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) for the 2018 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).
The agency set a total renewable fuel blending obligation of 19.29 billion gallons next year of which 4.29 billion gallons shall be advanced biofuel, including 288 million gallons of cellulosic biofuel, resulting in 15 billion gallons of conventional biofuel such as corn ethanol.
“ACE members are very pleased that the statutory 15-billion-gallon volume for conventional biofuel will be maintained in 2018 and that EPA is increasing the advanced biofuel volume to 4.29 billion gallons. This represents a modest step in the right direction for the RFS in 2018. Beyond sending a generally positive signal to the rural economy, increased blending targets also reassure retailers that it makes sense to offer E15 and flex fuels to their customers.
“While the 288 million gallons of cellulosic biofuel EPA is calling for in 2018 is a small increase from the volume proposed earlier this year, it is disappointing the 2018 volume represents a decrease from the 2017 cellulosic biofuel level of 311 million gallons. We firmly believe the technology exists to increase cellulosic biofuel targets.
“Finally, more can and should be done to overcome regulatory hurdles which prevent market access to higher ethanol blends and ACE remains committed to working with EPA to address those hurdles.”
Audio comments from Brian Jennings here.
