EPA Releases Highly Anticipated Ethanol Numbers

(JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.)—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released delayed proposed biofuel blending volumes under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The agency proposed biofuel blending requirements, allowing for 15 billion gallons of corn-based ethanol for 2022. The proposed volumes also include 12.5 billion gallons of conventional biofuels for 2020, typically comprised of corn-based ethanol. The proposed 2021 volumes include 13.32 billion gallons of conventional biofuels, despite federal law requiring 15 billion gallons of conventional biofuels by 2015.

The Missouri Corn Growers Association (MCGA) President Jay Schutte of Benton City, Mo., released the following statement:

“Today EPA and the Biden-Harris Administration delivered a mixed bag to corn farmers. While enforcing the federal law as intended by Congress for 2022, the agency simultaneously undercut the integrity of the RFS by retroactively lowering 2021 and 2020 blending levels for corn-based ethanol. Allowing EPA to reopen the finalized 2020 blending rules sets a dangerous precedent.

“The objective behind the federal RFS is to decrease our dependence on foreign oil and provide cleaner air for our country. Reducing low carbon renewable fuel requirements when climate solutions are at the forefront of this administration is counter-productive and costly to our national security, our economy, and our environment.”