(NAFB) – The Environmental Protection Agency heard testimony last week on its proposal to extend the Renewable Fuel Standard compliance deadline for refiners.

Chris Bliley is the Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs for Growth Energy, and he testified on the proposed extension.

“The intent of the RFS is to blend more biofuels into our nation’s transportation fuel supply, period,” Bliley said. “It’s not meant to reward oil companies for suing to prevent higher blends and then demand that the agency further delay compliance.”

He cites recent research that shows greenhouse gas emissions from corn ethanol are 46 percent lower than gasoline.

“With that, it makes no sense why the EPA would continue to allow further delays for oil companies to demonstrate compliance with their blending obligations,” he added. “EPA should take immediate steps to restore the integrity of the RFS, restore lost biofuel demand, and remove hurdles to E15 and higher biofuel blends.”