EPA Proceeding With RFS Rule Despite Farmer Objections

The Environmental Protection Agency has finalized its minimum biofuel blending volumes for 2020, but in a blow to biofuels supporters, EPA will not use actual gallons waived by the agency when determining if the minimums are met. The rule released Thursday morning calls for maintaining the 15-billion gallon target set by Congress for conventional ethanol and 2.1 billion gallons of biodiesel. However, groups like the Renewable Fuels Association were hoping that EPA would not follow through on its proposal to base gallons on a three-year rolling average from the Department of Energy of small refinery exemptions issued by EPA. RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper says EPA has again failed to uphold the Trump Administration’s promises to farmers and biofuel producers.

Small refinery exemptions have increased significantly since 2017, causing over a dozen ethanol plants to shut down. Cooper adds that it’s difficult for farmers to trust EPA to correctly account for waived gallons.

Multiple ag groups expressed similar disappointment. Missouri Corn Growers Association president Mike Moreland says EPA’s rule, quote: “falls short in fixing the erroneous exemptions gifted to oil companies, which erode demand for corn-based ethanol and lower the value of our crop.” National Farmers Union vice president Rod Larew called it another broken promise by President Trump, saying that the exemptions have cost family farmers billions of dollars in lost sales, eliminated thousands of jobs, and slowed economic growth in rural communities across the country.