The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Friday lifted its annual blending mandate for advanced biofuels, drawing praise from the U.S. biofuels industry, but disappointment that the government had not done more to protect the agricultural market. Under the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard, oil refiners must blend increasing amounts of biofuels into their fuel each year or purchase blending credits from those that do. The EPA on Friday lifted its requirement for advanced biofuels by 15 percent for 2019, while keeping the volume for conventional biofuels like corn-based ethanol steady. The figures were the same as reported by Reuters on Thursday ahead of the official release, in an article citing an internal agency document. Republican Senator Chuck Grassley from farm state Iowa […]