FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Monte, 515-252-6249

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 26, 2009

IRFA Urges EPA to Maintain Full RFS
Advanced Biofuel Requirement for 2010

JOHNSTON, IA – The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) today released a letter urging the EPA to maintain the full advanced biofuel volume requirements for 2010 as set forth by the revised renewable fuels standard (RFS) schedule in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.  The letter, addressed to Office of Transportation and Air Quality Director Margo Oge, was prompted by Oge’s comments at a recent conference in which she acknowledged the possibility of EPA reducing the required volumes of cellulosic biofuel under RFS for 2010.  In response to Oge’s remarks, IRFA President Denny Mauser stated the following:

“The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) believes strongly that any action to reduce an RFS volume requirement must be taken only as a last resort.  If the EPA ultimately concludes that the ‘last resort’ of reducing the cellulosic biofuel carve-out within the advance biofuels category is absolutely necessary, IRFA urges EPA to increase the undifferentiated advanced biofuels requirement by the same amount that cellulosic ethanol is reduced.  Any adjustment to the cellulosic requirement should not impact the overall volume requirement of the renewable fuels standard (RFS) schedule.

“By following this course of action, EPA can assure that the RFS schedule continues to meet the explicit volume requirements set forth by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 for years 2010 and beyond.  Similarly, by adding these waived gallons to the required gallonage for undifferentiated advanced biofuels, EPA would be allowing this amount to be met by other advanced biofuels, such as biomass-based diesel replacements, or even unforeseen volumes of cellulosic biofuel.  There is clearly no shortage of total advanced biofuels production capacity to meet this requirement.”

Here is the full text of the letter:

October 22, 2009

Margo T. Oge, Director

Office of Transportation and Air Quality (6401A)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20460

Dear Director Oge:

I am writing in response to comments attributed to you in an October 19, 2009, article from OPISnet.com entitled “EPA Mulls Scaled-Back Cellulosic Ethanol Mandate for 2010.”  According to this article, you made remarks at OPIS’ 11th Annual National Supply Summit in Las Vegas, Nevada, where you expressed that “EPA is considering whether a renewable fuel standard for cellulosic ethanol of something less than 100 million gal/yr might be the most viable option for next year” due to the possibility that 100 millions gallons of cellulosic ethanol might not be available in 2010.   

I understand these comments are consistent with EPA’s May 2009 Regulatory Announcement (EPA-420-F-09-023), which stated that “while based on industry plans available to EPA, we are not proposing that any portion of the cellulosic biofuel requirement for 2010 be waived, we are seeking additional and updated information that would be available prior to November 30, 2009 which could result in a change in this conclusion.”

The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) believes strongly that any action to reduce an RFS volume requirement must be taken only as a last resort.  If the EPA ultimately concludes that the “last resort” of reducing the cellulosic biofuel carve-out within the advance biofuels category is absolutely necessary, IRFA urges EPA to increase the undifferentiated advanced biofuels requirement by the same amount that cellulosic ethanol is reduced.  Any adjustment to the cellulosic requirement should not impact the overall volume requirement of the renewable fuels standard (RFS) schedule.

By following this course of action, EPA can assure that the RFS schedule continues to meet the explicit volume requirements set forth by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 for years 2010 and beyond.  Similarly, by adding these waived gallons to the required gallonage for undifferentiated advanced biofuels, EPA would be allowing this amount to be met by other advanced biofuels, such as biomass-based diesel replacements, or even unforeseen volumes of cellulosic biofuel.  There is clearly no shortage of total advanced biofuels production capacity to meet this requirement.

In summary, if EPA decides to reduce the required volumes of cellulosic biofuel for 2010, maintaining the overall advanced biofuels commitment and the full RFS requirement fulfills the clear intent of Congress to promote the use of renewable fuels in order to reduce GHG emissions, decrease U.S. reliance on foreign sources of energy, and boost rural economies while creating green-collar jobs.

If you have any questions, please contact Monte Shaw, Executive Director of IRFA, at (515) 252-6249 or mshaw@iowarfa.org.  Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Denny Mauser

President

The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association was formed in 2002 to represent the state’s ethanol and biodiesel producers. The trade group fosters the development and growth of the renewable fuels industry in Iowa through education, promotion, legislation and infrastructure development.

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For more information, visit the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association website at:  www.IowaRFA.org.