Institute (API) firing the next round by suing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last week over the 2013 ethanol mandates, the Detroit News reports.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, challenges the agency’s requirement to use 1.28 billion gallons of biodiesel next year, a 28% jump over 2012.
“EPA’s overzealous 2013 biodiesel mandate is unworkable, could raise the costs of making diesel fuel, and should be reduced,” said Bob Greco, group downstream director for the institute. “In its final rule, EPA admitted the costs of increasing the biodiesel volume requirement for 2013 outweighed the benefits by as much as $425 million.”
Last Wednesday, the Senate approved a bill that would let the Pentagon purchase more costly biofuels. Earlier in November, the agency declined a request from eight governors to stop mandates for corn-based ethanol after the summer’s Midwest drought decimated the corn crop.
“We recognize that this year’s drought has created hardship in some sectors of the economy, particularly for livestock
producers,” said Gina McCarthy, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation. “But our extensive analysis makes clear that congressional requirements for a waiver have not been met and that waiving the RFS will have little, if any, impact.” (NACS: www.nacsonline.com)
