EPA’s Out with 2017 RFS Mandates—–Sen. Inhofe Opposes Them

rfs

Oklahoma U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe says the latest announcement by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regarding its final Renewable Fuel Standards for 2017 shows “how broken the RFS is.”

The chairman of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee released a statement after the EPA’s announcement.

“Though EPA has acknowledged the realities of the blendwall, increasing mandated corn-ethanol volumes is not the appropriate response,” charged Sen. Inhofe. “Continuing to mandate more ethanol into the fuel supply comes at the expense of Oklahoma’s refiners and consumers.”

He said it’s essential to repeal or reform the RFS in the coming Congress.

But Janet McCabe, the EPA’s acting assistant administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation says the renewable fuel volumes continue to increase across the board compared to 2016 levels.

“These final standards will boost production, providing for ambitious yet achievable growth of biofuels in the transportation sector,” said McCabe.

Under the new mandates, the standard for biomass-based biodiesel, which must achieve at least 50 percent lifecycle greenhouse gas emission reductions compared to petroleum-based diesel, grows by 100 million gallons. The EPA said the required volume is twice that of the minimum congressional target.

The mandate for cellulosic biofuel grows 35 percent over the 2016 standard.