The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued biofuel blending mandates for 2022, 2021 and 2020, while denying oil refiners waivers to be exempt from the requirements. The EPA has set biofuel blending mandates for 2022 at 20.63 billion gallons (78.1 GL) and retroactive volume mandates for 2021 at 18.84 billion gallons (71.3 GL) and for 2020 at 17.13 billion gallons (64.8 GL). Though the EPA denied the oil refiners' exemption petitions, small refiners will be allowed extra time to meet their 2020 blending obligations.
In December 2021, the EPA proposed a higher volume than was finally decided for 2022 (20.77 billion gallons or 78.6 GL) for 2022, and a lower volume for 2021 (18.52 billion gallons or 70.1 GL). The COVID-19 pandemic, which dramatically cut the US energy demand, delayed the issuance of volume mandates, which are typically set ahead of time each year.