Last day! Get your comments on RFS to the EPA

In Washington, today is the final day to submit comments to the EPA regarding the 2014 proposed volumes for the Renewable Fuel Standard. Submit your comments,
identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2013–0747 via here or email to [email protected].

You can also fax comments to (202) 566–1741. If you submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name and other contact information.

For more details, click here.

Background

The American Petroleum Institute and the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers submitted a petition to the Administrator, dated August 13, 2013, on behalf of their members requesting a partial waiver of the 2014 applicable volumes under the RFS.

The petitions generally argue that there is an inadequate domestic supply of renewable fuel and therefore RINs for 2014, due both to ethanol ‘‘blendwall’’ constraints and limitations on the production of non-ethanol fuels like biodiesel.

Petitioners argue that this inadequate supply of renewable fuel (and RINs) will lead to an inadequate supply of gasoline and diesel, because refiners and importers, faced with a shortage of RINs, will reduce their production of gasoline and diesel for the domestic market. Petitioners argue that this will in turn severely harm the economy based on increased domestic gasoline and diesel prices.

Petitioners attached an analysis, dated October 2012, conducted by NERA Economic Consulting, titled ‘‘Economic Impacts Resulting from Implementation of RFS2 Program [sic].’’ The petition requests that EPA exercise its waiver authorities under section 211(o)(7) to reduce the required national volume of total renewable fuel and advanced biofuel to certain specified levels.

EPA is proposing to find that there is an inadequate domestic supply of renewable fuels in 2014 under section 211(o)(7)(A). EPA is also proposing to reduce the applicable volume of cellulosic biofuel under section 211(o)(7)(D).

Based on these findings, EPA is proposing to reduce the applicable volumes of total renewable fuel and advanced biofuel. EPA is not, however, proposing to find that implementation of the standards would severely harm the economy.