NEWS RELEASE
June 26, 2018
Proposed 2019 Cellulosic Biofuel Volumes Will Increase RNG Project Investment and Development
Washington, DC - Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its proposed 2019 Renewable Fuel Volume Obligations (RVO) under the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).
“The EPA’s proposed 2019 cellulosic biofuel RVO of 381 million gallons represents a 32% increase over the 2018 level,” said Johannes Escudero, CEO of the Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas (RNG Coalition). “We are pleased that the proposal recognizes that the RNG industry is continuing to grow under the RFS program. A 381-million-gallon cellulosic biofuel RVO will provide a policy framework that should allow renewable natural gas (RNG) stakeholders to continue developing, and access the capital necessary to invest in, build and service new RNG production facilities.”
The RNG industry produces more than 95% of the fuel that is used to meet the RFS program’s cellulosic biofuel requirement. Since 2011, the RNG industry has developed over 45 facilities capable of producing cellulosic biofuel, and there are currently an additional 50 projects under construction or development. The industry’s cellulosic biofuel production has increased from approximately 33 million gallons in 2014 to over 240 million gallons in 2017.
“We appreciate the fact that the EPA’s proposed cellulosic biofuel RVO reflects continued growth in the RNG industry. We look forward to working constructively with the administration to ensure that the methodology used to set the final cellulosic biofuel requirement accurately reflects the RNG industry’s investments and that the program is administered in a way that allows for these gallons to be used in the marketplace,” concluded Escudero.
About the Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas
The RNG Coalitionis the trade association representing over 130 companies and organizations dedicated to the advancement of RNG, including as an ultra-clean, domestically-produced, renewable fuel in North America. The RNG industry captures and converts methane (raw biogas) emitted by and captured from organic waste streams such as those from landfills, wastewater treatment facilities, livestock and agricultural digesters, and commercial food waste facilities, and converts the biogas into RNG. RNG is fully fungible with conventional natural gas, and is used as a direct substitute for most commercial, industrial and residential natural gas applications. Over 95% of the fuel produced and consumed to meet the RFS program’s cellulosic biofuel requirement is RNG.
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Media Contact:
Marcus Gillette
Marcus@RNGCoalition.com
916-588-3033, ext. 3