House Subcommittee on Environment examines biofuels component of Renewable Fuel Standard
The House Subcommittee on Environment recently held a hearing on the current status of the advanced biofuels component of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and future issues associated with the component.
“Unfortunately, cellulosic biofuels have not progressed as well as hoped,” Subcommittee Chair John Shimkus (R-IL) said. “Congress was convinced in 2007 that cellulosic biofuels were ‘just around the corner,’ but more than a decade later we are still waiting for liquid cellulosic biofuels to make a significant contribution.”
Witnesses included representatives from biofuels trade groups, the president of the National Wildlife Federation and the vice president of the Greater Chicago Truck Plaza on behalf of National Association of Truck Stop Operators.
“When the RFS was enacted, if I didn’t invest in biofuel infrastructure and adjust my business practices I’d be at a serious disadvantage today,” Robin Puthusseril, vice president of the Greater Chicago Truck Plaza, said. “That’s why I made the investments.”
Advanced Biofuels Association President Mike McAdams noted that new technologies have developed since the RFS statute was drafted.
“When the program was drafted, Congress and the nation understood biodiesel and ethanol,” McAdams said. “But, newer technologies using new feedstocks have developed, and, in many instances, they utilize two-step processes. The original statute was simply not drafted to allow for this, and the oversight that this Committee has done should point you in new directions compared to what we could understand and achieve in 2007.”
Renewable Energy Group CEO Randy Howard, who testified on behalf of National Biodiesel Board, noted the importance of transparency in the FRS statute.
“I think there are changes and updates that can be made to the RFS to give more clarity, to give more transparency,” Howard said. “A lot of the issues I’ve heard articulated here are due to the lack of transparency.”
