# EPA abandons changes to US biofuel program after lawmaker pressure

> In an October 19 letter to lawmakers, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt said the agency will keep 2018 renewable fuel volumes at or above proposed levels. The EPA also dropped plans to allow exported ethanol to count toward quotas and rejected shifting the blending obligation from refiners. The move followed opposition from Midwestern senators.

- Date: 2017-10-20 · published 2017-10-20T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: policy · region US · magnitude high
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/68336-epa-abandons-changes-to-us-biofuel-program-after-lawmaker-pressure
- Commodities: [Soybean Oil](https://feedsoft.ai/c/SBO.md), [Corn](https://feedsoft.ai/c/CORN.md)

## Why it matters

Keeping biofuel volumes at or above proposed levels supports demand for soybean oil and corn used for ethanol, which is bullish for those prices. Ending the uncertainty over the RFS removes a major downside risk for vegetable oils.

## Read by commodity

- SBO: bullish ▲
- CORN: bullish ▲

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| SBO | 2019-08-22 | [Farmers, lawmakers dial up pressure over biofuel policy](https://feedsoft.ai/events/57452-farmers-lawmakers-dial-up-pressure-over-biofuel-policy.md) | -2.2% | +3.7% |
| SBO | 2025-10-03 | [US lawmakers urge EPA to finalize stronger biodiesel proposal to aid soy farmers \| S&P Global](https://feedsoft.ai/events/15079-us-lawmakers-urge-epa-to-finalize-stronger-biodiesel-proposal-to-aid-soy.md) | +2.1% | +1.4% |
| SBO | 2016-11-23 | [Soybeans, soybean oil bound higher after EPA raises biofuel targets: Podcast](https://feedsoft.ai/events/6690-soybeans-soybean-oil-bound-higher-after-epa-raises-biofuel-targets-podcast.md) | +6.7% | +4.5% |
| SBO | 2025-06-13 | [US EPA proposes higher biofuel blending volumes through 2027 \| Reuters](https://feedsoft.ai/events/15111-us-epa-proposes-higher-biofuel-blending-volumes-through-2027-reuters.md) | +10.1% | +8.6% |
| SBO | 2022-12-01 | [EPA Takes Next Steps in Renewable Fuel Standard Program for 2023-25 \| US EPA](https://feedsoft.ai/events/15345-epa-takes-next-steps-in-renewable-fuel-standard-program-for-2023-25-us-epa.md) | -9.7% | -10.5% |
| CORN | 2019-08-22 | [Farmers, lawmakers dial up pressure over biofuel policy](https://feedsoft.ai/events/57452-farmers-lawmakers-dial-up-pressure-over-biofuel-policy.md) | +2.4% | +1.3% |
| CORN | 2025-06-13 | [US EPA proposes higher biofuel blending volumes through 2027 \| Reuters](https://feedsoft.ai/events/15111-us-epa-proposes-higher-biofuel-blending-volumes-through-2027-reuters.md) | -0.8% | -3.2% |
| CORN | 2022-12-01 | [EPA Takes Next Steps in Renewable Fuel Standard Program for 2023-25 \| US EPA](https://feedsoft.ai/events/15345-epa-takes-next-steps-in-renewable-fuel-standard-program-for-2023-25-us-epa.md) | -3.3% | +1.9% |

## Sources

- hydrocarbonprocessing.com: https://www.hydrocarbonprocessing.com/news/2017/10/epa-abandons-changes-to-us-biofuel-program-after-lawmaker-pressure/

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.