Conservationists, Industry Assail Fuel Standards in D.C. Cir.

An unusual alliance of conservationists and industry groups attacked the factors the Environmental Protection Agency considered when setting renewable fuel standards for 2023-2025 at oral argument before the D.C. Circuit on Friday.

Biofuel harms the climate, environment, and environmental justice, Carrie Apfel of Earthjustice told the court on behalf of the National Wildlife Federation. Additional land has to be cleared for food crops when other land is reserved for biofuel crops such as soy and corn, she said.

But the EPA nevertheless decided to require production of biofuel volumes that amplify these negative effects, and did so without record support ...