U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-SD) and Deb Fischer (R-NE) recently joined a bipartisan contingent of lawmakers to introduce legislation that would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to update its greenhouse gas modeling for all renewable fuels under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).
“It’s past time for the EPA to update its greenhouse gas modeling for all biofuels, which would more accurately reflect the emissions reductions achieved by ethanol, biodiesel, and sustainable aviation fuel,” Sen. Thune said. “This would not only underscore how homegrown biofuels can be a cleaner part of our energy security and environmental policy, driving value for South Dakota farmers, but also make biofuel exports more attractive to countries seeking to lower their transportation emissions.”
“The biofuels industry is on the frontlines of innovation, and it’s critical that the EPA’s modeling is updated to reflect the latest science and technology — including in the biofuels industry,” Sen. Fischer said on Oct. 27.
Specifically, the Adopt Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Transportation (GREET) Act, S. 3055, which Sen. Thune sponsored on Oct. 17, would require the EPA to apply the Argonne National Lab’s GREET Model to any fuel for which it has approved a pathway and deemed qualified for the RFS, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.
The EPA then would be required to update its modeling every five years or report to Congress to affirm its modeling is current or otherwise explain why no updates were made, the summary says.
“Our bipartisan legislation would ensure that the EPA is using the GREET Model to more efficiently and accurately recognize how biofuels can be a source of clean, homegrown energy,” said Sen. Fischer, who cosponsored S. 3055 alongside nine other original cosponsors, including U.S. Sens. Joni Ernst (R-IA), Mike Rounds (R-SD), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN).
The legislation, which is under consideration in the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, is supported by Growth Energy, the Renewable Fuels Association, the American Coalition for Ethanol, POET LLC, the National Corn Growers Association, Gevo Inc., and the National Oilseed Processors Association.