{"id":78865,"date":"2020-09-25T06:59:46","date_gmt":"2020-09-25T04:59:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rss.nova-institut.net\/public.php?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.biofuelsdigest.com%2Fbdigest%2F2020%2F09%2F14%2Fbiogenic-co2-coalition-files-petition-with-epa-to-recognize-zero-emissions-from-crops-as-feedstock%2F"},"modified":"2021-09-09T21:15:52","modified_gmt":"2021-09-09T19:15:52","slug":"biogenic-co2-coalition-files-formal-petition-for-rulemaking-with-epa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/biogenic-co2-coalition-files-formal-petition-for-rulemaking-with-epa\/","title":{"rendered":"Biogenic CO<sub>2<\/sub> Coalition Files Formal Petition for Rulemaking with EPA"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>The <a href=\"https:\/\/biogenicco2.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Biogenic CO<sub>2<\/sub> Coalition<\/a> today filed a <a href=\"https:\/\/biogenicco2.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/BiogenicCO2_Petition_FINAL_200910.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Petition for Rulemaking<\/a> with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), providing a detailed explanation of the scientific and legal basis for the agency to propose a rule to recognize that biogenic carbon emissions from agricultural crops do not contribute to elevated greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere. The filing also details the significant economic benefits of the proposal.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Regulatory clarity regarding the de minimis nature of biogenic carbon emissions from agricultural crops promises to spur investments in rural economies, drive the creation of green jobs, and enable American farmers and businesses to fairly compete in the international marketplace for renewable products.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSound science from around the world makes clear that carbon emissions from fossil fuels and agricultural crops should be treated differently. This petition provides EPA a simple blueprint for revising the regulations to reflect that reality,\u201d said John Bode, President &amp; CEO of the Corn Refiners Association. \u201cMore importantly, this rule change will help rural economies thrive by stimulating investment, creating green jobs, and encouraging growth in renewable products. This fast-growing sector not only supports American farmers, it creates products that are better for our planet.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The petition states:<\/p>\n<p>When biogenic feedstocks are processed at stationary sources, carbon dioxide emitted from the feedstocks are offset completely by the carbon dioxide that the feedstocks absorbed during photosynthesis \u2026 There is a broad scientific consensus that, because of photosynthesis, emissions from processing agricultural crops are carbon neutral or de minimis\u2026 Yet, in the PSD and Title V programs, EPA currently treats biogenic emissions the same as emissions from fossil fuels.\u00a0 The Biogenic CO<sub>2<\/sub> coalition therefore respectfully requests that EPA bring its PSD and Title V regulations in line with scientific evidence and the prevailing regulatory treatment of biogenic emissions by exempting carbon dioxide emissions from agricultural crops.<br \/>\nThe filing includes scientific evidence to support the regulatory change, including a survey of 108 peer-reviewed journal articles concerning biogenic CO<sub>2<\/sub> emissions from annual agriculture crops. One hundred four of the articles found show biogenic CO<sub>2<\/sub> emissions from agriculture crops \u201care completely balanced by biomass regrowth over a short period of time.\u201d\u00a0The filing also reviews how other significant jurisdictions and other U.S. regulatory bodies treat biogenic CO<sub>2<\/sub> emissions and discusses the economic benefits of the requested rule change.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs the bioeconomy grows, it will create new and sustainable markets for family farmers \u2013 something that is crucially important right now while the agricultural sector recovers from the pandemic, trade wars, and low crop prices,\u201d said Rob Larew, President, National Farmers Union. \u201cUnfortunately, misguided regulatory hurdles are hindering the success of this vital sector. We hope that EPA will remove these hurdles and open the door for additional financial opportunities and jobs in rural communities.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMany countries around the world include agricultural crops in their energy bioeconomy.\u00a0 It makes sense,\u201d said Rick Trojan, President, Hemp Industries Association. \u201cIt\u2019s time for the EPA to recognize the economic, environmental and energy value of agricultural crops. Now more than ever, American farmers need access to the bioeconomy to bring more revenue home to the farm.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In alignment with the aforementioned scientific review, a group of 21 leading scientists <a href=\"https:\/\/biogenicco2.org\/scientists-sound-off-on-epas-exclusion-of-agricultural-biomass-as-biogenic-c02\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">recently wrote<\/a> a letter to the EPA asserting that is it imperative the Agency act swiftly to adopt a rule that recognizes the de minimis character of emissions from annual crops.<\/p>\n<p>Members of Congress also agree the EPA needs to provide regulatory clarity for annual farm crops.\u00a0 Reps. Rodney Davis (R-IL), Collin Peterson (D-MN), Dave Loebsack (D-IA) and Roger Marshall (R-KS) recently <a href=\"https:\/\/rodneydavis.house.gov\/uploadedfiles\/biogenic_co2_letter_6-29-20.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">sent a letter<\/a> to EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler requesting regulatory clarity for annual farm crops.<\/p>\n<p>Last year, a bipartisan group of 18 Senators also <a href=\"https:\/\/protect-us.mimecast.com\/s\/UUEjCjRPDGsjMOOT1m-Kg?domain=fischer.senate.gov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">pressed the EPA<\/a> for swift action on this issue in a letter. A group of five Governors have also <a href=\"https:\/\/protect-us.mimecast.com\/s\/mhxuClYPGKto5MMfVZ0np?domain=governor.iowa.gov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">urged the agency <\/a>for action on the same issue.<\/p>\n<p>The Biogenic CO<sub>2<\/sub> Coalition also recently announced a <a href=\"https:\/\/biogenicco2.org\/biogenic-co2-coalition-announces-new-digital-ad-campaign-urging-epa-to-follow-sound-science-grow-u-s-bioeconomy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">new video and digital ad campaign <\/a>urging EPA to unleash the U.S. bioeconomy and rural industries by recognizing the de minimis character of carbon emissions from common agricultural crops.<\/p>\n<p>To read the full Petition for Rulemaking, click here: <a href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/3hh3XMy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/bit.ly\/3hh3XMy<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Biogenic CO2 Coalition today filed a Petition for Rulemaking with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), providing a detailed explanation of the scientific and legal basis for the agency to propose a rule to recognize that biogenic carbon emissions from agricultural crops do not contribute to elevated greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere. The filing [&#8230;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","nova_meta_subtitle":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5572,5571],"tags":[5829,13207,12366],"supplier":[12746,1214],"class_list":["post-78865","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bio-based","category-co2-based","tag-economy","tag-farmers","tag-fuels","supplier-biogenic-co2-coalition","supplier-united-states-environmental-protection-agency-epa"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/78865","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=78865"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/78865\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=78865"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=78865"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=78865"},{"taxonomy":"supplier","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/supplier?post=78865"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}