The RFS Power Coalition applauds the passage of H.R. 3055 (116), the Senate鈥檚 Interior Appropriations bill. The Interior-EPA portion of the spending package includes a provision led by Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) requiring the EPA to take swift action on existing eRIN applications:
Electric Pathway.鈥擳he Committee notes the backlog of applications under the Renewable Fuels Pathway II rule finalized in 2014. No applications for the electric pathway, which could help support rural agricultural communities, have been approved since the rule went into effect. The Agency shall take action on the existing applications within 90 days of the enactment of this act.
鈥淲e are extremely grateful to Senator Collins and all of the supporters of the provision that requires the EPA to process eRINs,鈥� said Bob Cleaves, president and CEO of Biomass Power Association. 鈥淐ongress included electricity in the RFS2 bill nearly 12 years ago, and the EPA鈥檚 failure to enact Congress鈥� mandate is hurting biomass, biogas and waste-to-energy power producers across the country. It鈥檚 past time for the EPA to include electricity in the program and enable biomass power producers to participate in the RFS. We urge the conference committee to preserve this language in the final bill.鈥�
鈥淭hank you to Senator Collins and all who have supported biogas-to-electricity producers in our effort to rightfully participate in the RFS,鈥� said Patrick Serfass, executive director of the American Biogas Council. 鈥淚f the EPA follows through and includes electricity in the RFS, dairy farmers and other biogas power producers will finally be able to generate much-needed RINs. We urge the conference committee to include this language in the final Interior Appropriations bill, and we look forward to lending any support the EPA needs to make sure this happens.鈥�
鈥淢any waste-to-energy facilities are owned by local governments, who have invested in technology to put post-recycled garbage to use in energy production,鈥� said Ted Michaels, president of Energy Recovery Council. 鈥淭he ability to generate eRINs would ensure a return on investment for these local governments. We thank Senator Collins and all supporters in the Senate for passing this bill and we hope to see EPA begin processing eRIN applications right away.鈥�
Earlier this year, the RFS Power Coalition filed a petition in the D.C. Circuit court of federal appeals to challenge the 2019 Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO). More than 50 Senators and Representatives have gone on the record urging the EPA to process eRINs.
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