(NDAgConnection.com) – A bipartisan group of senators, led by Sens. John Thune, R-S.D., and Dick Durbin, D-Ill., on Oct. 19 sent a letter to U.S. EPA Administrator Michael Regan urging the agency to establish robust and expanded renewable volume obligations (RVOs) in its upcoming Renewable Fuel Standard “set” rule.

The senators said strong RVOs will be bolstered by numerous incentives and investments that are poised to increase biofuel blending and further reduce the carbon intensity of these fuels. They also request that the EPA take supportive actions to provide regulatory certainty and afford new opportunities for homegrown biofuels.

“Through this rulemaking, EPA has a historic opportunity to not only reinforce its efforts to restore integrity to the RFS, but chart a new course for biofuels that will help meet America’s diverse energy demands while further decarbonizing numerous sectors of our economy,” the senators wrote.

In setting RVOs for 2023 and later years, the senators stress that the EPA can justify ambitious blending targets by leveraging recently extended and expanded incentive structures. These incentives include the newly established sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production tax credit and clean fuels tax credit, along with expanded credits for carbon capture and storage (CCS).