EPA Proposes 2013 Renewable Fuel Standards

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing the 2013 percentage standards for four fuel categories that are part of the agency’s Renewable Fuel Standard program (RFS2). The proposal—announced last week—will be open for a 45-day public comment period and EPA will consider feedback from a range of stakeholders before the proposal is finalized.

The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) established the RFS2 program and the annual renewable fuel volume targets, which steadily increase to an overall level of 36 billion gallons in 2022. To achieve these volumes, EPA calculates a
percentage-based standard for the each coming year. Based on the standard, each refiner and importer determines the minimum volume of
renewable fuel that must be used in its transportation fuel.

The proposed 2013 overall volumes and standards are:
•    Biomass-based diesel (1.28 billion gallons; 1.12 percent)
•    Advanced biofuels (2.75 billion gallons; 1.60 percent)
•    Cellulosic biofuels (14 million gallons; 0.008 percent)
•    Total renewable fuels (16.55 billion gallons; 9.63 percent

EPA’s RFS2 program encourages greater use of renewable fuels, including advanced biofuels. For 2013, the program would implement EISA’s requirement to blend more than 1.35 billion gallons of renewable fuels over the amount mandated for 2012. (NACS: www.nacsonline.com)