Iowa Corn Addresses EPA on RVO Proposed Rule

On Wednesday, EPA hosted a virtual public hearing regarding its proposed 2021 and 2022 renewable volume obligations (RVO) and the retroactive changes to the already finalized 2020 RFS blending requirements. ICGA President Lance Lillibridge and NCGA President and Iowa farmer Chris Edgington testified at the hearing along with many other industry partners. The testimonies appreciated the 2022 requirements at the 15 billion gallon statutory target for conventional biofuel, an additional 250 million gallons of remanded conventional biofuel volume for 2020 based on a 2017 court decision, and the denial of 65 pending small refinery exemptions (SREs). However, all groups expressed disappointment for only 13.52 billion gallons of conventional biofuel proposed for 2021, a nearly 1.5 billion gallon cut from the 15 billion gallons called for in the law. And ICGA and other strongly opposed the proposed unprecedented action to retroactively reopen and reduce the finalized 2020 renewable volume obligation. The already settled volume for that year is proposed to be slashed from 15 billion gallons to 12.5 billion gallons. ICGA will also be submitting written comments, due in February, on the proposed rule to reflect the statements made at the hearing.