11-06-2012
AFPM sues EPA over agency’s mandate to use non-existent biofuels
The American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) and the Western States Petroleum Association (WSPA) filed a lawsuit today with the D.C. Circuit Court challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision to require refiners to blend cellulosic ethanol or pay the agency for waiver credits due to the inability to blend these non-existent fuels under the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).
This challenge comes after the recent decision by EPA to deny a petition filed by AFPM,WSPA and the American Petroleum Institute in January for a waiver of the 2011cellulosic fuel requirements under the RFS. This petition was filed after EPA’s own data showed that no cellulosic fuel was commercially available and refiners would be forced to purchase credits representing a fuel that did not exist.
“Congress gave EPA authority to waive RFS requirements when there is an inadequate supply of domestic biofuel. If EPA isn’t going to exercise this authority in a year when zero gallons were produced and available, when would EPA use this waiver provision?” commented AFPM General Counsel Rich Moskowitz. “EPA’s waiver denial is contrary to Congress’ intent and forces refiners to purchase credits from EPA for cellulosic fuels that are not commercially available and amounts to a hidden fuel tax on consumers.”
The Clean Air Act requires EPA to establish the appropriate amount of cellulosic biofuel that should be mandated each year based upon the amount of fuel it expects to be available in the marketplace. EPA’s 2011 rule required refiners and importers of gasoline and diesel to blend 6.8 million gallons of cellulosic biofuels into the fuel supply, despite the fact EPA’s own tracking system indicating that zero gallons of cellulosic fuel were commercially available in2011.
“Someday cellulosic fuel may be available and may even be cost-effective, but today the fuel doesn’t exist. EPA’s denial of this waiver request is in poor judgment and a perfect example of the agency’s continuing war on fossil fuels,” said AFPM President Charles T. Drevna. “The requirement to blend cellulosic biofuels that do not currently exist—and will not be available in the immediate future—in any form that satisfies EPA’s phantom fuel requirements, let alone the quantities mandated by the RFS program, is one of many examples of how the RFS is broken. Congress should repeal the RFS and embrace a more realistic approach to biofuels American consumers deserve better from their government.”
News Category:
-
Beyond processbook & PI vision: Exploring today’s industrial analytics tools
(Webinar) - In the Manufacturing 4.0 era, industrial organizations have more data at their fingertips than ever, offering the promise of higher production rates, more ...
04-06-2024
-
Clariant launches new CATOFIN® 312 propane dehydrogenation catalyst
Clariant, a sustainability-focused specialty chemical company, today announced the launch of CATOFIN 312, its latest propane dehydrogenation catalyst. The new catalyst ...
16-04-2024
-
Yokogawa and GridBeyond conclude investment and strategic partnership agreements
Yokogawa Electric Corporation and energy IT solutions provider GridBeyond of Ireland announce that they have concluded a strategic partnership agreement. Furthermore, ...
16-04-2024
-
Heraeus Precious Metals launches Circlear
Heraeus Precious Metals, a globally leading company in the precious metals industry and one of the largest recyclers of precious metals, has introduced its new offering ...
16-04-2024
-
EMA and JERA to cooperate on LNG procurement and supply chains
The Energy Market Authority and JERA Co Inc, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to cooperate on mutually beneficial areas in liquefied natural gas procurement ...
16-04-2024
-
Hexagon and Dragos unveil technical partnership to strengthen industrial cybersecurity
Hexagon’s Asset Lifecycle Intelligence division today announced a strategic partnership with Dragos, a global leader in cybersecurity for operational technology (OT). ...
16-04-2024
-
Radix partners with Cleopatra Enterprise to enhance project controls and turnaround management
Radix, a global technology solutions company, announced the signing of a partnership agreement with Cleopatra Enterprise, a leading project cost management software company. ...
16-04-2024
-
Rhône Energies in talks to buy Fos-sur-Mer refinery
Rhône Energies, a consortium of Entara LLC and Trafigura Pte Ltd, has entered into exclusive negotiations to acquire the Fos-sur-Mer refinery and the Toulouse and Villette ...
14-04-2024
-
Cenovus Energy to invest in Toledo and Lima refineries
Canada's Cenovus Energy said it will spend more than $1.5 billion on its 160,000 b/d Toledo and 185,000 b/d Lima refineries in Ohio over the next five years and expand ...
11-04-2024
-
Kent plays integral role in Fawley petrochemical complex
Kent, a leading global engineering and project management company, is proud to announce its significant involvement in ExxonMobil's £800m investment in its Fawley Petrochemical ...
11-04-2024