The U-S Environmental Protection Agency is proposing that the federal production mandate for “conventional” ethanol remain at the maximum in 2018, but the requirement for biodiesel is causing concern in the industry. Monte Shaw of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association says it means that next year at least 15 BILLION gallons of corn-based ethanol should be produced. That’s the maximum amount under the “Renewable Fuels Standard.”

However, the E-P-A is suggesting the mandatory level for soybean-based biodiesel production remain the same.

The Iowa Biodiesel Board calls the E-P-A’s proposal a “setback” at a time when the industry was “ready to take a large leap forward.” The E-P-A’s recommended federal mandate for next year’s production of “cellulosic” ethanol that’s made from plant materials, like switch grass or corn stalks, is reduced as well according to Shaw.