The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a rule that establishes the required renewable fuel volumes under the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) program for 2018, and biomass-based diesel for 2019.
“Maintaining the renewable fuel standard at current levels ensures stability in the marketplace and follows through with my commitment to meet the statutory deadlines and lead the Agency by upholding the rule of law,” said EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt.
The Clean Air Act requires EPA to set the RFS volume requirements annually and to finalize the standards by November 30th for the following year.
The final standards for 2018, and for biomass-based diesel for 2019, are only slightly changed from the proposed standards that EPA issued earlier this year.
Final Volume Requirements
2018 2019
Cellulosic biofuel (million gallons) 288 n/a
Biomass-based diesel (billion gallons) 2.1 2.1
Advanced biofuel (billion gallons) 4.29 n/a
Renewable fuel (billion gallons) 19.29 n/a
The RFS program was created under the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and expanded by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. EPA implements the program in consultation with U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Energy. The RFS program is a national policy that requires a certain volume of renewable fuel to replace or reduce the quantity of petroleum-based transportation fuel, heating oil or jet fuel.
For more information on today’s announcement, go to:
https://www.epa.gov/renewable-fuel-standard-program/2017-announcements-renewable-fuel-standard