News
EPA announces RFS proposal
The Environmental Protection Agency released the long-awaited Renewable Fuels Standard proposals for 2014, 2015 and 2016 Friday morning. The plan also has the biodiesel standard for 2017. The proposals increase the overall use of biofuels over the three year period but the levels are below what Congress had mandated for 2015 and 2016 in the original legislation.
The 2014 RFS is the actual level used; 15.93 billion gallons. The 2015 biofuels target is 16.3 billion gallons; 2016 target total is 17.4 billion gallons
- The 2014 ethanol target is 13.25 billion gallons; 2015 ethanol target is 13.4 billion gallons and the 2016 ethanol target is 14 billion gallons.
- For biomass-based diesel the 2014 RFS is 1.63 billion gallons, for 2015 it is 1.7 billion gallons and 1.8 billion gallons for 2016 and the 2017 target is 1.9 billion gallons.
Janet McCabe is Acting Assistant Administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation at EPA, she says the volumes reflect the fact that renewable fuels are being produced and used in increasing volumes but there are limits to the amounts which can be supplied. McCabe says the new standards represent the real-world limitations to the further growth of renewable fuels in the near future. “This includes slower-than-expected development of the cellulosic biofuels industry, less growth in gasoline use than was expected in 2007 and constraints in supplying certain biofuels to consumers, ethanol at greater than ten percent of gasoline in particular.” McCabe says the proposal is a balance between Congress’ intent to increase renewable fuels for energy security and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the real world circumstances that have slowed progress toward those goals. “We believe that these volumes are achievable,” says McCabe.
There will be a public hearing on the proposal in Kansas City, Kansas on June 25, public comments will be accepted through July 27th with the final rule to be published by November 30th.
Listen to McCabe’s comments:
Add Comment