U.S. EPA proposes to reduce biofuel blending mandates in 2020, 2021

NEW YORK, Dec 7 (Reuters) - The Biden administration proposed on Tuesday a reduction in the amount of biofuels oil refiners have been required to blend into their fuel mix since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said it proposed to retroactively set total renewable fuel volumes at 17.13 billion gallons for 2020, reducing volumes from a previously finalized rule for that year at 20.09 billion gallons. It also proposed to set volumes at 18.52 billion gallons for 2021 and 20.77 billion gallons for 2022. Below is a table showing the proposals. Figures are in billions of gallons: Category 2020 2021 2022 Cellulosic 0.51 0.62 0.77 Biofuel Biomass-Based 2.43 2.43 2.76 Diesel Advanced 4.63 5.2 5.77 Biofuel Conventional 12.5 13.32 15 renewable fuel Total 17.13 18.52 20.77 Renewable Fuel (Reporting by Stephanie Kelly and Jarrett Renshaw Editing by Paul Simao)