Industry in High Gear to Secure Critical Federal Policy Decision
by Anne Steckel (National Biodiesel Board/Biodiesel Magazine) …Starting this year, the RFS calls for a minimum of 1 billion gallons of biomass-based diesel (mostly biodiesel) to be used each year in the U.S. fuel supply until 2022. The law gives the EPA the discretion to raise that minimum requirement each year based on industry capacity, feedstock availability and other factors. For 2013, the EPA proposed increasing the volume requirement to 1.28 billion gallons. This proposal is consistent with our internal research on sustainable growth and we strongly support it.
A final decision, however, has been stalled as the Office of Management and Budget—an arm of the White House charged with scrutinizing regulation—has raised questions. NBB’s Washington office has been working closely for months with the EPA, OMB, USDA, Congress and other White House officials to explain the economic, environmental and energy security benefits of increasing biodiesel production and use.
We have held a series of meetings with OMB in which we particularly focused on the economic benefits of biodiesel, including potential savings to consumers. In addition, we have been communicating regularly with the EPA, White House officials and others to ensure that the right people understand the significance of this rule to our industry and the broader economy, and we have boosted our presence on Capitol Hill to bolster our support there.
Simultaneously, the biodiesel community has weighed in strongly with grassroots advocacy. In our initial grassroots campaign that started in January, we estimate that nearly 2,000 letters were sent to the administration on this issue. READ MORE
