The Environmental Protection Agency will not publish a multiyear package of biofuel blending targets this week after being granted an extended timeline announced Tuesday.
The original deadline of June 14 has been extended to June 21, according to a legal filing from EPA and biofuel trade association Growth Energy. EPA and Growth Energy announced a consent decree last year that required the agency to finalize its Renewable Volume Obligations, which set annual blending targets under the Renewable Fuel Standard, by June 14.
“After discussion with EPA leadership, Growth Energy consented to this new deadline to finalize the RVOs,” Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor said. “We fully expect EPA to comply with the new deadline and look forward to a robust final rule that strengthens the RFS and enhances the biofuels industry's ability to decarbonize the transportation sector.”
The filing stipulates “the understanding that EPA will not seek a further extension of any deadline established by the decree.”
An EPA spokesperson confirmed the delay and said "EPA staff are working to finalize 'Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Program Standards for 2023-2025 and Other Changes' by June 21.
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"EPA will not seek a further extension of the consent decree deadline," the spokesperson said.
EPA has previously received an extension on the timeline of the consent decree. Last fall, the agency received a two-week extension to complete its proposal; at the time, Skor said any delay was “unfortunate” but noted the final rule deadline “remains in place for June 14, 2023.”
Last year, EPA proposed RVOs for 2023, 2024, and 2025 and proposed total volume growth for conventional corn ethanol and the biofuel sector as a whole. However, biomass-based diesel producers were frustrated with the proposal, claiming it would blunt the growth the industry is expected to achieve as new production capacity comes online.
Story updated at 2:55 p.m. to include EPA comment.
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