RFS White House meeting has downside on exported renewable fuel volumes

In Washington, DC, the Renewable Fuels Association said that the recent White House meeting on the RFS had a down-side discussion of a potential proposal to allow exported renewable fuel volumes to count toward RFS compliance. Geoff Cooper from the RFA said, “Simply put, allowing exported ethanol to count toward compliance with an oil company’s RFS obligation would lead to further demand destruction for U.S. ethanol producers and corn growers who are already suffering the consequences of EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt’s exuberant issuance of “economic hardship” RFS exemptions to dozens of small refineries.”

Using 2017 data, Cooper gave an example showing why such a proposal would further devastate an RFS program already reeling from dozens of small refiner exemptions. “Further, allowing exports to qualify for the RFS would likely offset any benefit that would come from an RVP waiver allowing year-round sales of E15,” said Cooper.