[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’s internal watchdog launches investigation into the agency’s analysis of the climate impacts of biofuels[/title][fusion_text]Friday, October 16th 2015
The Environmental Protection Agency’s internal watchdog is launching an investigation into the agency’s analysis of the climate impacts of biofuels. In a letter posted on its website, EPA’s Office of Inspector General said it “plans to begin preliminary research” to determine whether EPA has properly accounted for the full greenhouse gas emissions of biofuels. Biofuels must meet targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in order to qualify for usage mandates set by the Renewable Fuel Standard. The review will consider among other things whether EPA updated its lifecycle analysis of carbon emissions with results from a 2011 National Academy of Sciences study. The IG investigation comes as opponents of the RFS are airing ads claiming that ethanol is bad for the environment. Under the 2007 energy law, corn ethanol must reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20 percent in order to qualify for the RFS. EPA is required to account for both the direct emissions that result from producing the corn and the ethanol as well as the indirect impact on land use, or indirect land-use change (ILUC). The theory behind ILUC is that devoting cropland to biofuel production can lead to conversion of grasslands or forest in other areas. No definitive timetable was given in the letter, but it does state that OIG will work “to arrange a mutually agreeable time” to discuss objectives and any issues.
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