The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) disagrees with the categorization of biogenic CO2 emissions as equivalent to those of fossil fuels, the trade organization wrote in a comment to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Proposed Standards of Performance for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from New Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units. BIO represents biorefining companies that could be impacted by the rule.
Brent Erickson, executive vice president of BIO’s Industrial & Environmental Section, wrote in the comments, “Electric Utility Generating Units (EGUs) firing biomass, regardless of percentage, should not be subject to the proposed standards. Beneficial reuse of CO2 should also be incorporated as a viable compliance option to reduce GHG emissions. Industrial biotechnology can be utilized to produce sustainable alternatives to extractive fossil-based fuels, products and materials through the conversion of waste CO2 to renewable chemicals, materials, and fuels. Including multiple options to capture, store and utilize the CO2 emissions from new power plants will further incentivize the development of innovative technologies to mitigate CO2 emissions and other greenhouse gases."