[fullwidth background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”0″ padding_right=”0″ hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][title size=”1″ content_align=”left” style_type=”underline solid” sep_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” class=”” id=””]EPA sets final renewable volume obligations under Renewable Fuel Standard for 2014, 2015 and 2016[/title][fusion_text]Monday, November 30th 2015
The Environmental Protection Agency on Monday finished one chapter of drama surrounding the Renewable Fuel Standard, only to likely begin another as potential lawsuits loom. The controversial release set the final renewable volume obligations (RVOs) for 2014, 2015 and 2016. Stakeholders were mainly looking to see what was decided for 2016, the only year that is really being affected. The RVO for 2016 came in at 18.11 billion gallons, with the potential for about 14.5 billion gallons of that coming from corn ethanol and the remaining 3.61 billion gallons from advanced biofuels. In May, EPA proposed a 17.4 billion gallon total with 11.4 billion gallons potentially coming from corn ethanol. Monday’s announcement is a jump of about 710 million gallons, but that number is still well short of the 22.25 billion gallons called for in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. If achieved, the 2016 final rule will be about 1.8 billion gallons higher than actual 2014 usage, with much of that increase – almost 1 billion gallons – coming from increases in advanced biofuel targets. Today’s announcement comes after several years of delayed implementation forced API and AFPM to sue EPA and create a timeline for RFS announcements. While this rule is final, all indications are that it may be challenged – by both sides – in court as renewable fuels advocates protest EPA’s use of waiver authority and the oil industry continues its efforts to alter the law.
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