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APGA recently joined other like-minded organizations to send comments to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA proposed a rule related to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program, specifically revising the previously set 2020 standards and setting the volume standards for compliance years 2021 and 2022. The proposal also included EPA’s proposed approach for addressing the remanded 2016 standard-setting rulemaking, and a few other regulatory changes to the RFS regulations. The joint comments focused primarily on issues impacting gaseous cellulosic and advanced biofuels, which are renewable natural gas (RNG) feedstocks and may be transported by public natural gas utilities after processing and meeting quality specifications. These fuels could also be a part of an APGA member’s natural gas vehicle (NGV) efforts, either sold at a station or used in utility vehicles. In addition to APGA, the Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas, the National Waste and Recycling Association, the Solid Waste Association of North America, NGVAmerica, and Energy Vision signed the comments.

APGA and the other signers know that when it comes to reducing carbon and capturing methane, which are two major goals of the Biden Administration and two environmental benefits these stakeholders are good at, then the use of RNG can greatly assist the EPA in reaching its near-term and long-term national and international climate goals. RNG use in the transportation fuel market has expanded significantly since the energy became part of the cellulosic biofuel category under the RFS program. There is ample room for continued growth, provided that the EPA properly accounts for that growth and enforces the volumes. Appropriate action from EPA on the final RFS Annual Rules is critical.

To read the final comments, please click here.

For questions on this article, please contact Stuart Saulters of APGA staff by phone at 202-544-1334 or by email at ssaulters@apga.org.