The Environmental Protection Agency on May 29 issued a proposed rule for the volumetric requirements under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for 2014 through 2016. The EPA also released a 2017 proposed standard for biomass-based diesel.
The volumes include reductions from the statutory standards in the original 2007 Energy Independence & Security Act.
The proposed 2014 RFS would require 15.93 billion gallons of renewable fuels to be blended into the U.S. fuel supply (a 9.02 percent blend) and includes the following:
- Biomass-based diesel (1.63 billion gallons, 1.42 percent)
- Advanced biofuels (2.68 billion gallons, 1.52 percent)
- Cellulosic biofuels (33 million gallons, .019 percent)
The proposed 2015 RFS would require 16.30 billion gallons of renewable fuel to be blended into the U.S. fuel supply (a 9.04 percent blend) and includes the following:
- Bio-mass based diesel (1.70 billion gallons, 1.41 percent)
- Advanced biofuels (2.9 billion gallons, 1.61 percent)
- Cellulosic biofuels (106 million gallons, 0.059 percent)
The proposed 2016 RFS would require 17.40 billion gallons of renewable fuel to be blended into the U.S. fuel supply (a 9.63 percent blend) and includes the following:
- Bio-mass based diesel (1.80 billion gallons, 1.49 percent)
- Advanced biofuel (3.40 billion gallons, 1.88 percent)
- Cellulosic biofuels (206 million gallons, 0.114 percent)
Additionally, for 2017, EPA is proposing 1.90 billion gallons for biomass-based diesel.
EPA will hold a public hearing on the proposal on June 25 in Kansas City, Kan. The rule is open to public comment until July 27. EPA will finalize the rule by Nov. 30.
EPA had agreed to issue its proposed RFS volume requirements for 2015 by June 1, and a final rule establishing the volumes for 2014 and 2015 by Nov. 30 under a consent decree that settled a lawsuit over EPA’s failure to meet Congressionally mandated RFS deadlines.
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