Sen Debbie Stabenow and Rep Collin Peterson told NAAJ they were optimistic the administration will set a higher mandate for biofuels consumption this year than it initially proposed. “I get a sense there will be a backing off” from the initial proposal said Peterson, the Democratic leader on the House Agriculture Committee, based on meetings with administration officials. Stabenow said “I’m hopeful they are going to modify” the biofuels rule.
EPA administrator Gina McCarthy told NAAJ her agency would take into account a recent upturn in gasoline consumption. A 2007 law guarantees biofuels a share of the fuel market, rising annually to 36 bln gallons in 2022, half of it from “advanced” biofuels that are years slower than expected in coming onstream. The EPA proposal last November would hold the mandate for corn-based ethanol at 2012 or 2013 levels rather letting it rise to 14.4 bln gallons this year.
The Senate Agriculture Committee heard from developers of advanced biofuels on Tuesday. Copies of their testimony is here, along with a video of the hearing.