ACE responds to EPA’s workgroup regarding RFS “Set” rule

In Washington, the American Coalition for Ethanol last week responded to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Science Advisory Board (SAB) workgroup draft commentary letter to Administrator Regan regarding the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) “Set” Rule, particularly countering the biased allegations made by the workgroup concerning the greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) impacts of corn starch ethanol. ACE CEO Brian Jennings’ responses are aimed at setting the record straight leading up to the SAB’s September 21-22 public meeting.

Although the SAB does not have statutory authority to promulgate EPA regulations, Jennings refutes the misleading claims made by the RFS workgroup centering on the degree to which corn starch ethanol reduces lifecycle GHG emissions compared to gasoline.

The SAB workgroup letter makes the outrageous claim that corn starch ethanol may not meet the necessary scientific requirement of having no more than 80 percent of the lifecycle GHG emissions of gasoline. In fact, corn starch ethanol greatly exceeds the necessary scientific requirements as demonstrated by the best available lifecycle science (via the GREET model), which shows corn starch ethanol is at least 50 percent cleaner than the GHG emissions of gasoline on average.