[Hot Air] We knew (or at least feared) that this was coming, but Friday saw the finalization of the new biofuels ‐ specifically ethanol ‐ blending requirements for 2019 and 2020. And true to the promises that President Trump made to Iowa politicians, we did not see any significant reductions in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) mandates. In fact, they went up, much the same as under Obama’s EPA. (EPA website)On November 30, 2018, EPA finalized volume requirements under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program for 2019 for cellulosic biofuel, biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel, and biomass-based diesel for 2020. The final volume requirements are listed in the table below.
Here are the final numbers, for those interested in such depressing news.
BLUF:
In any event, it appears that nothing is going to change on this front and Iowa politicians are still holding the nation’s fuel supply hostage. And we have absolutely nobody in any position of power willing to take them on. Oh, and if you’d like one more thing to sour your morning coffee, there’s another push for a carbon tax taking place this month and they’ve even got some Republicans onboard.