Biofuel – US Lawmakers Renew Push to Halt Circulation of Pretend Used Cooked Oil
(Bloomberg) — US lawmakers are ratcheting up stress on the Environmental Safety Company to stem the stream of suspected pretend overseas used cooking oil that might be undermining American soybean farmers.
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six senators, together with Iowa Republican Joni Ernst and Minnesota Democrat Amy Klobuchar, wrote in a letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan seen by Bloomberg,
We have now important issues in regards to the current verification course of,
Historic ranges of the oil, or UCO, have been flooding into the US and chopping into demand for US-grown components, comparable to soybean oil, which might be important for making renewable fuels. There’s widespread suspicion a few of the imported merchandise are being blended with virgin vegetable oils like palm, which is linked to deforestation in Southeast Asia.
The push by the lawmakers comes because the biofuel trade awaits US authorities steerage on a brand new “clear” gas tax credit score set to take impact subsequent month. A bipartisan group of senators earlier this yr urged Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to make sure that solely biofuels made with home components can profit from the inducement. Donald Trump’s victory in November is including to the uncertainty because the president-elect vows to clamp down on China with new tariffs.
Of their letter, the lawmakers urged the EPA to answer a request despatched in June asking how the company intends to confirm the authenticity of UCO, saying the present system isn’t working.
The US has imported a document 3.2 billion kilos of UCO from January to August, the lawmakers wrote, citing US Census Bureau knowledge.
In accordance with the senators,
That is sufficient product to displace roughly 270 million bushels of soybeans,
Lawmakers requested the EPA to stipulate the way it traces the origin of UCO imports, particularly these coming from international locations with “restricted oversight” comparable to China, and if the company plans to make any adjustments in how UCO shipments are verified.
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Biofuel – US Lawmakers Renew Push to Halt Circulation of Pretend Used Cooked Oil, supply
