EPA fights for biofuel target reduction

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced yesterday that it is proposing to cut the biofuel production target this year.

This comes in response to the EPA arguing that US energy markets are unable to obtain the necessary biofuel levels, required by law, for fuel supply. 

At present, the EPA is putting together the final 2014 biofuel use targets, after releasing a proposal in November stating that laws regarding ethanol in US fuel supplies should be modified to meet production capabilities.

The draft order, which proposes biofuel production demands should be cut from 18.15 billion to 15.21 billion gallons, will be finalised and a decision released in June.

Gina McCarthy, the head of EPA, announced at a House appropriations committee hearing: 'We're going to take a reasonable approach that recognises the infrastructure challenges and the inability at this point to achieve the levels of ethanol that are in the law.’

Since the announcement was initially made in November, lobbyists have argued against its implementation, stating that the biofuel production industry would be significantly hindered.

'Clearly, the ethanol and the biodiesel industry do not believe that the proposal represented the full breadth of what the agency could or should be doing to achieve the congressionally mandated levels in the law,' McCarthy added.

This decision, if implemented, will be in opposition to The Renewable Fuel Standard, which calls for the ongoing increase in biofuels in the US, until 2022.