This week, thirty-seven members of Congress sent a letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan to express their concern over the agency’s failure to reflect the growth in the production of biomass-based diesel in the proposed RFS blending mandates for 2023-2025. The use of biomass-based diesel is becoming an increasingly important blendstock for both biodiesel and renewable biodiesel. The letter points out that the Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) forecasts the production of renewable biodiesel would increase from 3.1 billion gallons in 2022 to 5.9 billion gallons by 2025. However, the EPA’s proposed blending volume mandate for biomass-based diesel accounts for only 10% of EIA’s projected growth. The letter urged the EPA to increase the volume of biomass-based diesel to more accurately reflect current and near-term biodiesel production capabilities.
EMA submitted written comments to the EPA on the proposed RFS blending mandates in February 2023. EMA expressed similar concerns over the low volume blending mandate proposed for biomass-based diesel stating:
“The proposed blending mandates in the NPRM for biomass-based diesel and overall advanced biofuel volumes through 2025 are not consistent with the industry’s projected growth, or with the Administration’s own goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”
EMA warned that if finalized as proposed, the biomass-based diesel blending mandate would have a negative price impact on both RIN’s and biofuels as well as act as a powerful disincentive for continued growth in the biodiesel industry. EMA urged the EPA to increase biomass-based diesel blending mandates to avoid these negative impacts.