EPA Publishes Final Rule On RFS Standards For 2020
On December 19, 2019, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator, Andrew Wheeler, signed the final rule on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program, setting the renewable fuel percentages for 2020. Titled Renewable Fuel Standard Program: Standards for 2020 and Biomass-Based Diesel Volume for 2021 and Other Changes, the final rule establishes the annual percentage standards for cellulosic biofuel, biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel that apply to gasoline and diesel transportation fuel produced or imported in 2020. The rule also establishes the applicable volume of biomass-based diesel for 2021. The final volume requirements can be accessed here. Thus far, industry stakeholders seem displeased with the standard calculations to account for volumes of fuels projected to be exempted from the renewable volume obligations (RVOs). The waiver limits biofuel producers were hoping for are not reflected in the final rule. While the final rule has not yet been published in the Federal Register (FR), it will become effective 60 days after the FR publication. Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. will continue to monitor and provide further details once the final rule is published.