Shenk testifies at EPA hearing, asks agency to get RFS back on track

Kate Shenk, the National Biodiesel Board director of regulatory affairs, testified at a U.S. EPA hearing Dec. 3 on “Proposed Extension of Renewable Fuel Standard Compliance Deadlines.” On behalf of NBB’s members, Shenk urged EPA “to withdraw the proposed rule, maintain the annual compliance deadlines, and issue the 2021 and 2022 RVO immediately.”

In her testimony, Shenk stated, “EPA is attempting to sneak in an automatic delay in the compliance reporting and attest engagements for future years. However, what we see is an admission that EPA will miss the statutory deadlines going forward, while making it easier to do so. With EPA’s current nonactions on issuing the RVO, coupled with this proposal, EPA is acting as if there is no statutory deadline for promulgating annual rules.”

In 2020, the U.S. biodiesel and renewable diesel market grew to 3 billion gallons—its highest volume ever—and generated more than 4.5 billion advanced biofuel credits (renewable identification number, or RIN, credits). There are, therefore, more than sufficient RINs for refiners immediately to meet compliance obligations that have already been extended.

A copy of her testimony is available at NBB.org.

The U.S. biodiesel and renewable diesel industry supports 65,000 U.S. jobs and more than $17 billion in economic activity each year. Every 100 million gallons of production supports 3,200 jobs and $780 million in economic opportunity. Biodiesel production supports approximately 13 percent of the value of each U.S. bushel of soybeans.