“The EPA’s idea is to put 15.2 billion gallons of ethanol in gasoline in 2014 rather than the 16.55 billion used this year.”
Sure sounds like a decrease.
Kind of right. The 2014 mandate was for over 18 billion gallons. That has been scaled back to around 15 billion gallons, same as 2012. The 2013 TARGET was over 16 billion gallons.
The numbers for 2013 aren’t actually in yet, and it’s well known that ethanol plants have been struggling with profitably. And blenders can buy RINs (Renewable Identification Numbers) to offset using less biofuel.
And, of course, it’s not a done deal. Final rules won’t be known for a few months.