The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently released its updated tailpipe emissions rule, but has been delaying issuing new RFS volumes and 45z tax credit rules. All, are things the head of the Renewable Fuels Association isn’t happy about. Geoff Cooper’s group joined other ag-related groups in suing the EPA over its stringent tailpipe emission rule. He says he isn’t buying the agency’s denial that the rule is a ‘mandate.’ https://media-cdn.socastsrm.com/wordpress/wp-content/blogs.dir/2626/files/2024/09/cooper1.mp3 “You can call it whatever you want, but if it looks like a duck and walks like a duck, it’s a duck. The only way automakers can comply with these standards, long-term, is to dramatically increase the production of electric vehicles and dramatically reduce the production of internal combustion engine vehicles.” Thereby, Cooper says, forcing two-thirds of new-light duty vehicle sales to be EVs by 2032. Meanwhile, he says RFA members are still waiting for Treasury rules and guidance on 45z tax credits due next year and crucial for the success of sustainable aviation fuel. https://media-cdn.socastsrm.com/wordpress/wp-content/blogs.dir/2626/files/2024/09/cooper2.mp3 “What will the carbon intensity modeling look like, how will climate-smart ag practices be integrated into carbon intensity scoring and just so many other questions.” Cooper is confident the 45z final rules will unbundle and expand climate-smart practices and fertilizer use. Also unresolved are year-round E15 sales outside of eight Midwest states– one of which is South Dakota–, an RFA appeal to the Supreme Court on Small Refinery Exemptions and new Renewable Volume Obligations due on November 1st. https://media-cdn.socastsrm.com/wordpress/wp-content/blogs.dir/2626/files/2024/09/cooper3.mp3 “EPA has already made clear that they won’t make that deadline. We don’t think we’ll see a proposal until well after the election, but won’t see a final rule until this time, next year.” And, Cooper says, RFA is pressing the EPA to restrict tax credits going to mislabeled cooking oil and tallow from China and Brazil, currently used to make one in every six gallons of biodiesel in the U.S.