BIO calls on EPA to use “thoroughly vetted methodology…based on contemporary and complete data” in applying land-use change analysis to biofuels

In Washington, BIO said that the EPA, by assigning indirect land-use change penalties to biofuels, is assigning the US biofuels industry the responsibility for land use decisions around the world, and the resulting carbon emissions.

BIO CEO Jim Greenwood said that, in doing so, the EPA is providing endorsement of the position of other nations who seek to shift the responsibility for at least a portion of their domestic carbon emissions to the United States and other developed nations. “If land use change penalties are applied to biofuel feedstock producers,” he added, “these penalties should arguably be applied to all agricultural producers and other land users.

If this is the direction EPA seeks to pursue, it needs to approach this radical shift in regulatory policy very carefully, and with the greatest possible flexibility, to minimize economic harm and other unintended consequences, and said that EPA’s computation of lifecycle emissions must follow consistently applied and thoroughly vetted methodology, be based on contemporary and complete data, and account for and encourage a range of future technology advances.”

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