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Thursday, May 23, 2019

EPA Sends RFS Reset Plan to OMB For Review

EPA has sent its proposed plan for a reset of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), one of the final stages before the plan will be released.
There are no indications regarding levels EPA is proposing at this stage for 2020, 2021 and 2022 renewable fuel levels (2021 and 2022 for biomass based biodiesel) – the final three years of RFS authorization. However, expectations are that the conventional ethanol component will remain at 15 billion gallons, the level specified in the 2007 energy law.
The EPA plan will "propose modifying the applicable volumes targets for cellulosic biofuel, advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel for the years 2020-2022," according to the notice posted by OMB. "Since the timetable for this rulemaking overlaps that for annual standard-setting rulemakings, this rulemaking will also include the applicable percentage standards for 2020."

EPA also noted that the reset plan also includes "several regulatory amendments designed to provide clarity and increase opportunities for renewable fuel production." However, it is not clear what those other amendments are.