Edeniq calls for strong 2018 cellulosic targets under the RFS

US cellulosic and biorefining company Edeniq has joined forces with other biofuels stakeholders in Washington, DC, to call for Members of Congress to maintain “strong” 2018 cellulosic targets under the renewable fuel standard (RFS).

The group recently met with key Members of Congress to explain why it was “critical that the 2018 cellulosic annual renewable volume obligation (RVO) is set at 384 million gallons, as was originally proposed by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and sent to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in May”.

The 2018 cellulosic RVO will be included in EPA’s final 2018 federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) rule due out later this month (November, 2017).

During a briefing for Capitol Hill staff, Sarah Caswell, VP of Government and Regulatory Affairs for Edeniq, said: “It is critical that the EPA issue its final 2018 RFS rule with a cellulosic RVO at the level originally proposed to OMB in May, so that the RFS law will continue to work as Congress intended.

“By setting the 2018 cellulosic RVO at the level which reflects actual expected production for next year, EPA will be sending the all-important signal to the market that will give cellulosic producers and investors the confidence they count on to maximise growth and production.

“This progress will help meet the RFS cellulosic statutory volume requirements set by Congress a decade ago.”

Edeniq also joined other advanced and cellulosic biofuel companies in signing a letter to President Trump thanking him for his commitment to biofuels, and stressing the importance of the stability of RFS policy rule-making, including setting the 2018 cellulosic RVO in line with actual expected production.