The reaction of the ethanol industry has been mixed regarding the EPA’s release of the final Renewable Volume Obligations under the Renewable Fuels Standard.
The agency announced the final numbers for the mandated renewable fuels blending levels for 2020 through 2022. Brian Jennings from American Coalition for Ethanol tells AgDay’s Michelle Rook they’re disappointed the 2020 Renewable Volume Obligations came in below actual production. However, he says the revised 2021 numbers were more favorable with a slight increase and that momentum built into 2022.
Brian Jennings, American Coalition for Ethanol CEO, “For 2022 we are very gratified that not only did EPA maintain the 15 billion gallon blending obligation for that calendar year but in addition to that Michelle they’re adding to that 250 million gallons in terms of an additional blending obligation for refiners.”
He says the additional volume brings EPA into compliance with the lawsuit the ethanol industry won back in 2016 regarding the blend wall. EPA also denied the balance of the pending Small Refinery Exemptions from the Trump Administration and Jennings says that is huge going forward due to the precedent it sets.
