The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its proposed 2019 Renewable Fuel Volume Obligations (RVO) under the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). “We appreciate that the EPA’s 418 million gallons of cellulosic biofuel volume requirement for 2019 reflects continued growth in the renewable natural gas industry. It provides a policy framework that will lead RNG stakeholders to invest in and build new RNG production facilities just as the Renewable Fuel Standard is designed to do,” said Johannes Escudero, CEO of the Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas (RNG Coalition).
The RNG industry produces 95% of the fuel used to meet the RFS program’s cellulosic biofuel requirement. The industry’s cellulosic biofuel production has increased significantly in recent years. October 2014 RNG production was 6.6 million gallons; October 2018 RNG production was 28.5 million gallons. An additional 55 RNG production facilities are under construction or development.
“The growth in production of renewable natural gas and the completion of nearly 50 new production facilities from coast to coast since 2014 is proof positive that the RFS is working as intended for cellulosic and advanced biofuels,” said Escudero. “We appreciate EPA timely finalizing these expected volumes and, as stated by EPA, we look forward to ensuring that the program, including small refiner exemptions, are administered in a way that do not undermine the program’s advanced biofuel requirements.”