The US Government is inviting public views on its proposal to slash the amount of renewable fuels which must be blended in the nation’s gas and diesel supply.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)  has proposed to set ethanol use at 15.21 billion gallons in its 2014 Renewable Fuel Standards.

That figure is 16% lower than the target set in 2007. It also falls below the 16.55 billion gallons requirement for this year.

The standard sets out how much renewable fuel a refiner or importer is responsible for.

The EPA said its proposal aims to put the renewable fuel programme “on a steady path forward, ensuring the continued long term growth of the renewable fuel industry”.

The proposal could be seen as a win for the US oil industry which is said to have lobbied for a relaxed biofuel target.

EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy said: “Biofuels are a key part of the Obama Administration’s ‘all of the above’ energy strategy, helping to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, cut carbon pollution and create jobs. We have made great progress in recent years and EPA continues to support the RFS goal of increasing biofuel production and use.”