E.P.A. Finalizes Increases in Renewable Fuel Levels

E.P.A. Finalizes Increases in Renewable Fuel Levels
(WASHINGTON) - The E.P.A. (EPA) announced final volume requirements under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) plan today for the years 2014, 2015 and 2016, and final volume requirements for biomass-based diesel for 2014 to 2017. This rule finalizes higher volumes of renewable fuel than the levels E.P.A. suggested in June, boosting renewable production and providing support for robust, achievable growth of the biofuels industry.

"The biofuel industry is an incredible American success story, and the RFS plan has been an important driver of that success-cutting carbon pollution, reducing our dependence on foreign oil, and sparking rural economic development," said Janet McCabe, the acting assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Air and Radiation. "With today's final rule, and as Congress intended, E.P.A. is establishing volumes that go beyond historic levels and grow the amount of biofuel in the market over time. Our requirements provide for ambitious, achievable growth."

The final RFS is an important part of the Obama Administration's strategy to take action on climate change by propelling the U.S. toward a clean energy future. With final requirements in place for the year ahead, biofuel producers and blenders are in a better position to project and invest - putting the market on stable ground and supporting further growth and innovation in the renewable fuels industry.

The final 2016 standard for cellulosic biofuel - the fuel with the lowest carbon emissions - is nearly 200 million gallons, or seven times more, than the market produced in 2014. The final 2016 standard for advanced biofuel is nearly one billion gallons, or 35 percent, higher than the actual 2014 volumes; the total renewable standard requires growth from 2014 to 2016 of in excess of 1.8 billion gallons of biofuel, which is eleven percent higher than 2014 actual volumes. Biodiesel requirements grow steadily over the next several years, increasing every year to reach two billion gallons by 2017.

The RFS, established by Congress, requires E.P.A. to set yearly volume requirements for 4 categories of biofuels. The final rule considered in excess of 670,000 public comments, and relied on the latest, most accurate data available. E.P.A. finalized 2014 and 2015 requirements at levels that reflect the actual amount of domestic biofuel used in those years, and requirements for 2016 (and 2017 for biodiesel) that represent significant growth over historical levels.

Final Renewable Fuel Volumes

	2014	2015	2016	2017
Cellulosic biofuel (million gallons)	33	123	230	n/a
Biomass-based diesel (billion gallons)	1.63	1.73	1.90	2.00
Advanced biofuel (billion gallons)	2.67	2.88	3.61	n/a
Renewable fuel (billion gallons)	16.28	16.93	18.11	n/a

Note: Units for all volumes are ethanol-equivalent, except for biomass-based diesel volumes, which are expressed as physical gallons.

The final rule also sets out revised compliance dates for refiners and other parties.

For more information on today's announcement, go tohttp://www2.epa.gov/renewable-fuel-standard-program/final-renewable-fuel-standards-2014-2015-and-2016-and-biomass-based.

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