Senate subcommittee hearing tears into EPA and RFS challenges

In Washington, a hearing was held last week by the Senate Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management to tackle concerns surrounding the Environment Protection Agency’s handling of biofuel blending mandates under the Renewable Fuel Standard and recent reports from the White House’s General Accounting Office alleging that GHG emissions reductions goals won’t be achieved through the RFS nor will the required volumes of advanced biofuels likely be available on the market for blending. Other issues including the EPA’s proposal to shift the point of obligation for RINs as well as RIN prices were also heard. While support for the RFS was mixed by committee members, biofuels associations and producers called out the EPA for rulemaking in a way that disincentivized advanced biofuel investment.