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EPA’s Pull-Back Acknowledges Flawed Numbers and Methodology in 2014 Proposal

JOHNSTON, IOWA – Literally one year after Iowa Governor Terry Branstad and Iowa’s Congressional Delegation led a ‘Defend the RFS Rally’ at Lincolnway Energy in Nevada, Iowa, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced they were pulling back the draft proposal for 2014 Renewable Volume Obligations (RVO) under the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for reconsideration. The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) today expressed relief that the EPA recognized the flaws in the proposal and expressed hope that the EPA will use the additional time to get the RFS back on track with the correct numbers and methodology.

“The fact the EPA could not finalize the draft rule in the full year since Gov. Branstad led the RFS rally proves the initial proposal was severely flawed and unworkable,” stated IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw. “By pulling-back this proposal, EPA has acknowledged America’s call for greater consumer choice, energy security, and a cleaner environment.

“It is our hope that this delay signals that the Administration is discarding the illegal infrastructure waiver criteria as they move forward, providing the opportunity to get the RFS back on track with the correct numbers and methodology.

“While it’s positive the EPA did not finalize a rule that guts the RFS today, it is imperative they move forward rapidly, especially for advanced biofuel producers such as Iowa’s biodiesel and cellulosic ethanol community. Given the reality of the calendar, the final 2014 RVO will have little impact on the 2014 marketplace, but the same cannot be true in 2015. The EPA must allow the RFS to once again be a driving force for consumer access to cleaner-burning, homegrown renewable fuels.”

Iowa is the nation’s leader in renewable fuels production. Iowa has 43 ethanol refineries capable of producing more than 3.8 billion gallons annually, including 22 million gallons of annual cellulosic ethanol production capacity and one cellulosic ethanol facility currently under construction. In addition, Iowa has 12 biodiesel facilities with the capacity to produce nearly 315 million gallons annually.

The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association was formed in 2002 to represent the state’s liquid renewable fuels industry. The trade group fosters the development and growth of the renewable fuels industry in Iowa through education, promotion, legislation and infrastructure development.