2019 draft volumes are less than statutory targets
By NACS Online
On June 26th, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its proposed rule regarding the renewable volume obligations (RVOs) for 2019 and biomass-based diesel volumes for 2020. Overall, EPA has proposed a 3.1% increase in renewable fuel blending. The proposed total renewable fuel requirement for 2019 is 19.88 billion gallons of biofuel with no more than 15 billion gallons from conventional renewable fuels such as corn ethanol. Using its statutory waiver authority, EPA has proposed volumes for cellulosic biofuel, advanced biofuels and total renewable fuels that are below the volume targets mandated by Congress. In the proposal, EPA also is asking for public comments on whether to limit who can trade renewable fuel compliance credits and how long they can be held.
Under Section 211 of the Clean Air Act, EPA is required to set the final 2019 volumes for cellulosic and advanced biofuels and total renewable fuels and the 2020 volumes for biomass-based diesel by November 30. Public comments on the proposal must be submitted by August 17th.
EPA’s Proposed Renewable Volume Obligations and Percentage Standards
EPA’s proposed RVOs and percentage standards for 2019 and 2020 are listed below, with final volumes and percentage standards for 2015–2018 listed for refe rence. All volumes are ethanol-equivalent, except for biomass-based diesel, which is actual.
Volumes Used to Determine the Proposed Percentage Standard
| 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |
| Cellulosic biofuel
(in millions of gallons) |
123 | 230 | 311 | 288 | 381 | n/a |
| Biomass-based diesel
(in billions of gallons) |
1.73 | 1.90 | 2.0 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.43 |
| Advanced biofuel
(in billions of gallons) |
2.88 | 3.61 | 4.28 | 4.29 | 4.88 | n/a |
| Total renewable fuels
(in billions of gallons) |
16.93 | 18.11 | 19.28 | 19.29 | 19.88 | n/a |
Proposed Percentage Standards
| 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | |
| Cellulosic biofuel | 0.069% | 0.128% | 0.173% | 0.160% | 0.209% |
| Biomass-based diesel | 1.49% | 1.59% | 1.67% | 1.74% | 1.72% |
| Advanced biofuel | 1.62% | 2.01% | 2.38% | 2.37% | 2.67% |
| Total renewable fuels | 9.52% | 10.10% | 10.70% | 10.67% | 10.88% |
