Johannes Escudero, the CEO and Executive Director of the Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas (RNG Coalition), today welcomed the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) move to finalize the Renewable Fuel Standard’s (RFS) cellulosic biofuel targets for 2020. “The RFS has helped spur the remarkable growth of America’s RNG industry. We welcome today’s final rule providing for a 41% percent increase in the program’s cellulosic biofuel target, and we appreciate the Administration’s willingness to promote the expanded production and use of cellulosic biofuels,” stated Escudero.
The RNG industry captures raw biogas that would otherwise escape fugitively into the atmosphere or be flared (wasted) from organic waste streams such as landfills, wastewater treatment facilities, livestock and agricultural digesters, and commercial food waste facilities and converts that biogas into RNG. RNG is fully fungible with conventional natural gas, and is used as a direct substitute for most transportation, commercial, industrial and residential natural gas applications.
“From here, we look forward to working constructively with EPA and the Administration to make further improvements to the RFS that promote market stability and account for the impact of carryforward RINs in future rulemakings. The RNG industry stands ready to provide increasing volumes of high-quality cellulosic biofuel to consumers in the years to come,” concluded Escudero.