EPA proposes renewable fuel quotas for 2020, biomass diesel for 2021

The US Environmental Protection Agency proposed renewable fuel quotas for 2020 and biomass-based diesel fuel quotas for 2021, putting it on track to meet the final deadline for publishing the annual Renewable Fuel Obligations for a third consecutive year.

“Unlike the previous administration, we have consistently issued the annual renewable volume obligations rule on time, which is critically important to America’s farmers and all stakeholders impacted by the Renewable Fuel Standard program,” EPA Administrator Andrew R. Wheeler said on July 5.

EPA said that the proposed RVOs’ key elements included:

• "Conventional" renewable fuel volumes, primarily met by corn ethanol, would be maintained at the implied 15 billion gas target set by Congress.
• The proposed advanced biofuel volume requirement for 2020 would be 5.04 billion gal, 120 million gal more than 2019’s advanced biofuel volume requirement.
• The proposed 2020 cellulosic biofuel volume requirement of 540 million ethanol-equivalent gal is based on EPA’s production projection which is 120 million ethanol-equivalent gal higher than 2019’s finalized cellulosic biofuel volume.
•  The proposed 2021 biomass-based diesel quota of 2021 would continue 2020’s established 2.43 billion gal level.

The agency said it would schedule a public hearing on the proposed renewable fuel quotas and accept public comments for 30 days after it is held.

Contact Nick Snow at [email protected].