U.S. EPA Proposes Revised Renewable Fuel Standard Program Regulations

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for the national Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program for 2010 and beyond (RFS2). The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 requires the national supply of renewable fuels to reach 36 billion gallons by 2022, which requires a significant expansion of the current RFS (RFS1). The proposed revision to the RFS1 program specifies the volume of cellulosic biofuel and biomass-based diesel that must be used in transportation fuel each year. The program classifies these fuels as advanced biofuels, which are defined as fuels other than corn-based ethanol that produce half the greenhouse gas emissions of the fuel they replace. Once the RFS2 program is implemented, EPA expects to conduct an annual notice-and-comment rulemaking process in order to determine the appropriate standards applicable in the following year. For more information, see the EPA RFS Program website and the proposed rule.