The Environmental Protection Agency Wednesday released the final Renewable Fuel Standard volume requirements for 2017, setting the conventional biofuel volume—which includes ethanol—at the statute level of 15 billion gallons. That represents an increase from 14.8 billion gallons in the proposed rule and sets the standards in line with bipartisan Congressional intent when the RFS was put into law. Pro-ethanol groups applauded the move by the EPA as it followed series of years in which the EPA undercut the statute set volume levels under the RFS. Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor said the final rule “validates the critical importance of cleaner burning, less expensive biofuels,” like ethanol.