IRFA Urges EPA Not to Reduce RFS Cellulosic Biofuel Levels
January 21, 2025
Reduction of Biofuel Levels and Deadline Extension Would Set Horrible Precedent
Contact: Emma Koehler
515-252-6249
JOHNSTON, IA – Today the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) submitted comments to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding the proposed partial waiver of 2024 cellulosic biofuel volume requirements and extension of the 2024 compliance deadline. IRFA urged the EPA not to reduce Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) cellulosic biofuel levels and not to extend the 2024 compliance deadline.
“This would not only lead to massive amounts of excess cellulosic RINs, but it also sets a horrible precedent for the future,” IRFA Policy Director Nathan Hohnstein stated in the submitted comments. “There is already reduced trust in so-called “final” rules throughout the RFS community. Continued actions that undermine any sense of certainty in the program unnecessarily risk the long-term success of the RFS program.”
If the EPA should move ahead with rulemaking, IRFA suggests increasing biomass-based diesel and advanced RVOs for 2025 to better reflect the market and restore the integrity of the RFS. IRFA’s full comments submitted to the EPA can be found here.
The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association represents the state’s liquid renewable fuels industry and works to foster its growth. Iowa is the nation’s leader in renewable fuels production with 42 ethanol refineries capable of producing 4.7 billion gallons annually – including 34 million gallons of annual cellulosic ethanol production capacity – and 10 biodiesel facilities with the capacity to produce 416 million gallons annually. For more information, visit the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association website at: www.IowaRFA.org.
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