New proposed levels for biofuels under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) were released Wednesday by the Environmental Protection Agency.
The 2018 RFS level for conventional biofuels, including corn ethanol, was maintained at 15 billion gallons, the maximum under current law, which Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen says will benefit both producers and consumers.
In this interview, Dinneen comments on the proposal and also gives update on Brazil’s attempt to impose tariffs on U.S. ethanol: Interview with Bob Dinneen, RFA
On the biodiesel side, the EPA proposal would maintain the minimum required biomass-based diesel volumes at 2.1 billion gallons for 2019, far below the industry request of 2.75 billion gallons.
Reaction from the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) comes from vice president of federal affairs Anne Steckel who says the proposal underestimates the ability of the biomass-based diesel industry to meet the volumes of the RFS program.
In this interview, Steckel also comments about reports that the EPA may have been considering lowering biofuel volumes to avoid the use of low cost imports saying that the RFS should be kept separate from trade issues: Interview with Anne Steckel, NBB