2014 Renewable Fuel Standards under Renewable Fuel Standard Program: Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
Rule Summary
EPA is proposing the volume requirements and associated percentage standards that would apply under the RFS2 program in calendar year 2014 for cellulosic biofuel, biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel. The proposed standards would ensure that transportation fuel sold in the United State contains a minimum volume of renewable fuel as required by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.
The proposal seeks to put the RFS program on a steady path forward – ensuring the continued growth of renewable fuels while recognizing the practical limits on ethanol blending, called the ethanol “blend wall.” The blend wall refers to the difficulty in incorporating increasing amounts of ethanol into the transportation fuel supply at volumes exceeding those achieved by the sale of nearly all gasoline as E10 (gasoline containing 10 percent ethanol by volume). Although the production of renewable fuels has been increasing, overall gasoline consumption in the United States is less than anticipated when Congress established the program by law in 2007. In order to address that issue, EPA is proposing – to use existing authorities under the law – to reduce the advanced biofuel and total renewable fuel standards for 2014. The Agency is also proposing to maintain the same volume for biomass-based diesel for 2014 and 2015 as was adopted for 2013.
On December 9, 2014, EPA announced that the Agency will not be finalizing 2014 applicable percentage standards under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program before the end of 2014.