Renewable Fuel Standard

Within six months following the point at which monthly production of denatured ethanol produced in Louisiana equals or exceeds a minimum annualized production volume of 50 million gallons, at least 2% of the total gasoline sold by volume in the state must be denatured ethanol. Ethanol is defined an ethyl alcohol that has a purity of at least 99%, exclusive of added denaturants; meets U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; meets all the requirements of ASTM D4806; and is produced from domestic agricultural or biomass products. This requirement will not be effective until six months after the average wholesale price of a gallon of Louisiana-manufactured ethanol, less any federal alcohol fuel mixture tax credits, is equal to or below the average wholesale price of a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in Louisiana for a period of not less than 60 days, as determined by the Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry (Commissioner).

Within six months following the point at which monthly production of biodiesel produced in the state equals or exceeds a minimum annualized production volume of 10 million gallons, at least 2% of the total diesel sold by volume in the state must be biodiesel produced from domestically grown feedstock. Biodiesel is a fuel comprised of mono-alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids derived from renewable resources and meeting the requirements of ASTM specification D6751, or a diesel fuel substitute produced from non-petroleum renewable resources, such as vegetable oils and animal fats, that meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency fuel and fuel additive requirements.

Alternatively, these requirements may be met through the production of an alternate renewable fuel, defined as a liquid fuel that is domestically produced from renewable biomass, can be used in place of ethanol or biodiesel, and meets the definition of renewable fuel in the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Within six months following the point at which cumulative monthly production of an alternate renewable fuel capable of substituting for ethanol and biodiesel produced in the state equals or exceeds a minimum annual production volume of 20 million gallons, at least 2% of the total motor fuel sold by volume in the state must be the alternate renewable fuel produced from domestically grown feedstock. This requirement may not exceed 2% of the total motor fuel sold by volume by owners or operators of fuel distribution terminals.

Blenders and retailers will have six months to meet the new minimum ethanol, biodiesel, or alternate renewable fuel content requirement. The Louisiana Commission of Weights and Measures may waive or extend the six month time period if the quality or supply of ethanol or biodiesel in the state is insufficient to meet the minimum content requirements, or fuel distributors are unable to blend ethanol due to delays in obtaining permits or constructing ethanol blending or storage equipment. Fuels containing ethanol or biodiesel will not be required to be sold in ozone nonattainment areas. The Commissioner will adopt rules and regulations requiring incentives to compensate for any costs associated with achieving the minimum ethanol and biodiesel standards.

The Department defines domestically grown feedstock to include any feedstock produced in the United States. Because in-state volume requirements are currently being met through the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard, the state has not implemented any formal procedures to enforce the regulation.

The Louisiana Legislature encourages in-state restaurants to provide their waste fats, oils, and grease to biodiesel production facilities and store their waste fats, oils, and grease in a manner that facilitates the use of these products in a biodiesel production facility

(Reference Louisiana Revised Statutes 3:3712, 3:4674, 3:4674.1)