Industry Groups Fight EPA Move to Limit Biodiesel Blends

NEFI and its allies filed comments with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in opposition to proposed changes to the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS). The National Energy & Fuels Institute reports in its Feb. 14 newsletter, NEON, that the EPA is proposing a change “that would effectively limit biodiesel blends to no more than 20 percent (B20), and make biodiesel blending into heating oil difficult.”

Click here for a copy of a letter to the EPA, and here for a two-page issue brief explaining the concerns of NEFI and its allies.

NEFI said that it consulted with many industry stakeholders in drafting its letter. “The consensus is the changes proposed by the EPA will harm the ability of our industry and state governments to deliver on their environmental commitments, increase greenhouse gas emissions, and increase costs for heating oil consumers,” the Institute said.

The EPA will review the comments received and write a final rule over the next few months, NEFI said. In the meantime, NEFI said, it plans to relay the industry’s concerns to key members of Congress. Organizations endorsing the letter to the EPA: The Advanced Biofuels Association, Better Home Heat Council of the Lehigh Valley, Clean Fuels Alliance America, Connecticut Energy Marketers Association, Delaware Valley Energy Marketers Association (Pennsylvania), Empire State Energy Association (New York), Energy Marketers Association of Rhode Island, Fuel Merchants Association of New Jersey, Maine Energy Marketers Association, Massachusetts Energy Marketers Association, National Association of Oil and Energy Service Professionals, New Hampshire Energy Marketers Association, New York State Energy Coalition, Pennsylvania Petroleum Association, Vermont Fuel Dealer’s Association and Washington State Independent Energy Distributors Association.

The comment period ended at midnight on Feb. 10.