Wisconsin Ag Connection - State & National Corn Groups Slam EPA's Latest RVO Proposal

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State & National Corn Groups Slam EPA's Latest RVO Proposal
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 10/16/2019

The president of the Wisconsin Corn Growers Association said his group is disappointed in the Environmental Protection Agency's supplemental proposal to the 2020 Renewable Volume Obligation rulemaking.

In a statement, Doug Rebout said farmers have once again been let down by the agency's unwillingness to follow the letter of the law.

"While efforts are being made by the EPA to follow recommendations from the Department of Energy, this proposal does not live up to President Trump's promises," Rebout said. "We encourage all growers to participate in the 30-day public comment period following the public hearing on October 30."

The notice does not change the proposed volumes for 2020 and 2021. Instead, it proposes and seeks comment on adjustments to the way that annual renewable fuel percentages are calculated. Annual renewable fuel percentage standards are used to calculate the number of gallons each obligated party is required to blend into their fuel or to otherwise obtain renewable identification numbers (RINs) to demonstrate compliance.

Specifically, the agency is seeking comment on projecting the volume of gasoline and diesel that will be exempt in 2020 due to small refinery exemptions based on a three-year average of the relief recommended by the Department of Energy, including where DOE had recommended partial exemptions.

The National Corn Growers Association also released a statement expressing its opposition to the proposal, saying the proposed rule fails to provide the assurance needed that EPA's practices for granting waivers will change going forward.

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