BIO Assesses Impact Of EPA Delays On RFS Investment

(BIO) released a new white paper on
“Estimating
Chilled Investment for Advanced Biofuels Due to RFS
Uncertainty,” along with
an
accompanying press release.

BIO examined the impact of EPA’s recent inability in
administering the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS)
on investment in advanced and cellulosic biofuels. It
has found that EPA’s delay in issuing the final 2013
and 2014 RFS rules, among other delays in RFS
administration, is responsible for most of the “$13.7
billion shortfall in necessary investments for capacity
to meet the RFS goals.” According to the white paper,
the delays have “undercut the industry’s ability to
create new employment opportunities by more than 80,000
direct jobs.”

This white paper is released as RFS stakeholders are
eagerly awaiting EPA’s expected release of the final
2014 RFS rule later this year. Biofuels stakeholders
would like to see the Agency withdraw and re-issue
EPA’s proposed 2014 RFS rule with stronger volumetric
requirements and a different methodology, while oil and
gas industry stakeholders are pressing EPA to issue the
final 2014 RFS in line with the volume requirements and
methodology contained in the proposed rule.