EPA Announces Proposals To Mitigate SRE Fallout

  • Friday, 04 October 2019 12:27

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a series of proposals today intended to mitigate the fallout from its issuance of RFS small refinery exemptions (SRE) to the oil industry.

While scant on details, the EPA has proposed to ensure more than 15 billion gallons of conventional ethanol will be blended into the nation's fuel supply from 2020 onwards and that this target will account for SREs the agency expects to issue next year. 

For the 2018 RVOs, the EPA had issued 31 SREs which amounted to 1.43 billion gallons of ethanol.

While the EPA's announcement today says the agency will account for SRE issuances in its 2020 target for conventional ethanol, it did not state what the actual targeted volume will be. However, the EPA said it "intends to take final action on this front later this year."

In addition, the EPA said it will initiate a rulemaking process to streamline E15 labeling and remove other barriers to the sale of E15. 

The agency said it will also continue to evaluate options for RIN market transparency and reform. It did not specify what those options are. 

Lastly, the EPA said the USDA will seek opportunities through the budget process to consider infrastructure projects to "facilitate higher biofuel blends."

The EPA's announcement can be read here.