ICGA Recognizes EPA for Holding the Line on 2022 RFS Proposal

The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) is the most impactful energy policy our country has ever implemented. Today’s final 2022 renewable fuel volumes released by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will support the policy by providing an increased role for low carbon ethanol to save drivers money at the pump, clean the air and cut greenhouse gas emissions.

For 2022, EPA will follow the law by setting the Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) for conventional biofuel at 15 billion gallons. EPA also finalized the delayed 2021 volume at 13.79 billion gallons, an increase of 470 million gallons from the proposal, which tracks actual ethanol use for the year. While the 2022 volume supports growth and the 2021 volume represents an improvement from the proposal, EPA unfortunately is finalizing its unprecedented step of retroactively reopening and reducing the previously settled 2020 volumes by 2.5 billion gallons. Lastly, and importantly, EPA’s final rule maintains the 250 million gallons of remanded conventional biofuels that were added as a result of a 2017 court decision and denies the 69 pending small refinery exemptions.

“By following the law for 2022, maintaining the remanded gallons from the court order and denying the 69 small refinery exemptions, drivers will have more access to more affordable, cleaner-burning, homegrown ethanol in their tanks,” said Iowa Corn Growers Association President Lance Lillibridge, a farmer from Benton County. “We are all feeling the pressure at the pump with higher fuel prices, so this decision by EPA is a step in the right direction to give farmers more access to markets while also providing more renewable fuel for our vehicles. It’s a win-win.”

In April, when President Biden was in Iowa, he said biofuels, like ethanol, reduce our reliance on foreign oil, create choice and competition at the pump for better prices, create good-paying jobs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The opportunity to waive ridiculous hurdles to E15 in the marketplace for consumers and get the RFS back on track fits the plan as outlined by the Administration.

“ICGA will continue to advocate for win-win solutions for farmers and biofuels to have access to the market. While today’s RFS announcement holds the line for biofuels growth in 2022, we will double down on solutions to advance more homegrown, affordable, clean-burning corn-ethanol in the years ahead through initiatives like the Next Generation Fuels Act.”  

For More Information:

Shannon Textor, Director of Communications, stextor@iowacorn.org , 515-225-9242