Calls to reconsider cellulosic biofuel volumes

The NPRA, American Petroleum Institute and Western States Petroleum Association jointly filed a petition today requesting that the EPA waive the 2011 cellulosic biofuel volume mandate in its entirety, because it appears no cellulosic biofuel was actually produced last year.

The petition notes that EPA’s monthly summary of available volumes of cellulosic biofuels shows that no cellulosic biofuel was produced in the US from July 2010 through October 2011.

The volume of cellulosic biofuels that EPA required refiners to use in 2011 was 6 million gals. NPRA and API sent a petition to EPA in February 2011 to reconsider that mandate, but EPA has not yet announced a final decision on the petition.

‘Refiners are being ordered to do the impossible, use large volumes of cellulosic biofuels even though none have been being produced,’ said NPRA President Charles T. Drevna. ‘Because they can’t use something that doesn’t exist, refiners are being told to pay US$ 6.8 million to EPA. We don’t even know how the proceeds of this hidden de facto gasoline tax will be used. This mandate is excessive and harmful to consumers and will undoubtedly raise energy costs and could have a negative impact on fuel supplies. The time has come for EPA to approach this issue rationally and use good judgement when making a decision.’

Although the EPA must act on the petition within 90 days, NPRA requests the agency make a more expeditious decision based on NPRA’s prior requests for adjusted cellulosic biofuel targets.

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/gas-processing/23012012/calls-to-reconsider-cellulosic-biofuel-volumes/