Renewable Fuel Standards
Most Recent Action
On February 7, 2013 the EPA proposed the 2013 Renewable Fuel Standards for the Renewable Fuel Standard program (RFS2).
Background
Clean Air Act Section 211(o), amended by the Energy Independence and Security Act of (EISA) 2007, requires the EPA to set the annual standards under the Renewable Fuel Standard program (RFS) each November for the following year based on gasoline and diesel projections from the Energy Information Administration (EIA).
EISA established annual renewable fuel volume targets, which steadily increase to an overall level of 36 billion gallons in 2022. To achieve these volumes, the EPA calculates a percentage-based standard for the following year. Based on the standard, each refiner, importer, and non-oxygenate blender of gasoline or diesel determines the minimum volume of renewable fuel that it must ensure is used in its transportation fuel.
Determining the applicable standards under RFS requires EPA to conduct an in-depth evaluation of the volume of qualifying cellulosic biofuel that can be made available the following year. If the projected available volume of cellulosic biofuel is less than the required volume specified in the statute, EPA must lower the required volume used to set the annual cellulosic biofuel percentage standard to the projected available volume.
For years after 2012, the EPA must determine the applicable volume of biomass-based diesel at least 14 months prior to the year in which the volume will be required. Thus, for the 2013 compliance year, the EPA must specify the applicable volume of biomass-based diesel by November 1, 2011.
Authority
Clean Air Act Section 211(o), amended by the Energy Independence and Security Act of (EISA) 2007, requires the EPA to set the annual standards under the Renewable Fuel Standard program (RFS) each November for the following year based on gasoline and diesel projections from the Energy Information Administration (EIA).
2013 Standards
The proposed 2013 standards are:
Biomass-based diesel: 1.28 billion gallons; 1.12 percent
Advanced biofuels: 2.75 billion gallons; 1.6 percent
Cellulosic biofuels: 14 million gallons; 0.008 percent
Total renewable fuels: 16.55 billion gallons; 9.63 percent
Related Documents
On February 7, 2013 the EPA proposed the 2013 Renewable Fuel Standards for the Renewable Fuel Standard program (RFS2).
2013 Fact Sheet, January 2013
Renewable Fuel Standard: Potential Economic and Environmental Effects of U.S. Biofuel Policy, a Congressionally-requested report from the National Research Council 2011
Standards for previous years are available on the EPA website.