Action Alert: Submit Comments to EPA on the RFS Proposal
August 13, 2017
SDSA needs you to submit comments to EPA this month on the 2018 and 2019 volumes for biomass-based diesel under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). EPA released its proposed 2018/19 RFS volumes in early July, calling for biodiesel volumes of 2.1 billion gallons in 2019, and an Advanced Biofuels volume of 4.28 billion gallons for 2018.
Those numbers reflect no increase for biodiesel, and a 40 million gallon decrease for Advanced Biofuels over the previous year. This is a missed opportunity. Biodiesel adds at 63 cents per bushel to the bottom line for soybean farmers, and we need to do everything we can to grow this market.
In our comments to EPA, we call for an increase in the volumes for biomass-based diesel to at least 2.75 billion gallons for 2019 and in total Advanced Biofuels volumes to 5.25 billion gallons in 2018. Please use this form to submit your comments to EPA asking for the same.
Biodiesel has grown into a domestic market approaching 3 billion gallons, of which soybean oil remains the largest source of biodiesel feedstock. Biodiesel has expanded markets for farmers and livestock producers and created new jobs and economic growth, particularly in rural America. Biodiesel also provides additional economic, energy, and environmental benefits, such as increasing volumes of domestically produced, renewable energy while providing significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions resulting in improved air quality.
The biodiesel industry has provided these benefits without any significant disruption or adverse impacts to consumers. Our industry has always advocated for RFS volumes that are modest and achievable, and we have met or exceeded the targets each and every year that the program has been in place.