OIL INDUSTRY FIGHTS EPA PLAN FOR TAX' ON RENEWABLE FUEL SHORTFALL

摘要

Major oil and gas refiners are railing against an EPA proposal to impose a $1 per-gallon fee on refiners if they fail to meet the 35-billion gallon threshold for renewable and alternative fuels administration officials are planning to require in the agency's upcoming low carbon fuel standard (LCFS) rule, which EPA is set to propose later this year. Industry officials presented documents to a Nov. 8 White House meeting charging that EPA's proposal, which could be attached to a rule that seeks to implement goals laid out by President Bush in his 2007 State of the Union address, is an "unjustified penalty and a disguised tax" that will hamper manufacturing, limit the gasoline supply and undermine the low-carbon fuel trading program created by the agency's rule, according to the industry document. Relevant documents are available on InsideEPA.com. See page 2 for details. EPA is drafting the rule in response to the President's announcement in his 2007 State of the Union address unveiling the so-called "20 in 10" policy, an initiative that seeks to cut gasoline consumption by 20 percent in 10 years by increasing supply of renewable and alternative fuels. Administration officials have said this goal requires 35 million gallons of alternative and renewable fuels.