EPA Reconsiders 2013 RFS Cellulosic Biofuel Obligation – Recognizes Phantom Fuels
WASHINGTON – American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) President Charles T. Drevna issued the following statement on EPA’s agreement to reconsider the 2013 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) cellulosic biofuel obligation in response to AFPM’s October 2013 petition:
“We appreciate the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) response to our request to reconsider the high RFS cellulosic renewable volume obligation (RVO) for 2013. The Agency’s optimism for cellulosic biofuel appears to have been tempered by reality. EPA used common sense when making this decision and we believe common sense should also prevail in resetting the 2013 cellulosic RVO, which would mean that our members will not be required to purchase credits for a fuel that does not exist.”
EPA set the cellulosic biofuel obligation for 2013 at six million gallons. However, less than one million gallons were actually produced last year. This follows EPA’s decision last March to set the requirement for 2012 to zero.
“While we are pleased that the Agency will reconsider the cellulosic obligation, we are nonetheless disappointed that EPA chose not to address fully the issues outlined in AFPM’s petition, such as its failure to meet statutory deadlines for the annual RFS obligations.
“EPA’s decision on the 2013 cellulosic biofuel requirement is the right one, but it doesn’t alleviate the waste of resources and time spent correcting just this one example of an impracticable Renewable Fuel Standard.”
About AFPM
AFPM, the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers is a trade association representing high-tech American manufacturers of virtually the entire U.S. supply of gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, other fuels and home heating oil, as well as the petrochemicals used as building blocks for thousands of vital products in daily life. AFPM members make modern life possible and keep America moving and growing as they meet the needs of our nation and local communities, strengthen economic and national security, and support 2 million American jobs.
(January 23, 2014)
