Biotech Updates

US Government: No Change to Current Biofuel Mandate

September 18, 2013
News article: http://www.argusleader.com/article/20130911/NEWS/309110041/White-House-stands-behind-ethanol-standard-Vilsack-says?gcheck=1&nclick_check=1

The United States government will continue its strong support for the eight-year-old biofuel mandate known as the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) despite legislative proposals aimed at overhauling or ending this mandate, according to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

The RFS requires refiners to buy biofuels made from corn, soybeans and other crop sources in order to reduce the country's dependence on petroleum-based fuels. The Environmental Protection Agency finds the country's biofuel targets in 2014 unrealistic and has indicated a willingness to reduce it. In Washington, lawmakers have proposed to revise the RFS.

In a speech before the country's largest ethanol group, Vilsack said that there is no need for Congress to intervene because the policy is still working. He reiterated that there is enough flexibility within the mandate to allow the EPA to alter annual fuel blend requirements.