EPA is being called on to set the 2021 and 2022 Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) to require "conventional renewable fuel volumes of at least 15 billion gallons per year, as required by statute, along with the court-ordered 500 million gallons illegally waived from 2016 standards and increase biodiesel, advanced, and cellulosic volumes."
The lawmakers told EPA Administrator Michael Regan that "restoring the integrity of the RFS and expanding market opportunities for renewable fuels should remain a core part of our plans to assist in the economic recovery of rural America and further reduce emissions from the transportation sector." The lawmakers also called on EPA to update their modeling on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions.
The lawmakers also took issue with those refiners indicating they cannot comply with the RFS for 2021, noting the extension of the compliance deadlines for 2019 and 2020 and pointing out that action is in addition to the prior administration granting small refinery exemptions (SREs) that "undercut renewable fuels."
They also sought to counter arguments that high prices for Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) are threatening the viability of refiners, pointing out that there are many ways refiners can show compliance with the RFS. They called on EPA to "reject requests" to waive or reduce RVOs and continue the commitment to "support farmers and rural communities by upholding and restoring confidence in the RFS."
The letter was signed by 12 bipartisan Midwest Senators, including Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., and others.