Fuels and chemicals

EPA proposes increase in renewable fuel levels

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed increases in renewable fuel volume requirements across all types of biofuels under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program. The proposed increases would boost renewable fuel production and provide for ambitious yet achievable growth, the agency says.

The proposed volumes would represent growth over historic levels:

• total renewable fuel volumes would grow by nearly 700 million gallons between 2016 and 2017.
• advanced renewable fuel would grow by nearly 400 million gallons between 2016 and 2017.
• the non-advanced or “conventional” fuels portion of total renewable fuels would increase by 300 million gallons between 2016 and 2017 and achieve 99 percent of the Congressional target of 15 billion gallons.
• biomass-based biodiesel would grow by 100 million gallons between 2017 and 2018.
• cellulosic biofuel would grow by 82 million gallons, or 35 percent, between 2016 and 2017.

The Clean Air Act requires EPA to set annual RFS volume requirements for four categories of biofuels. EPA held a public hearing on this proposal on June 9, 2016, in Kansas City, Missouri. Public input and comment is open until July 11. More information is available at www.epa.gov/renewable-fuel-standard-program/proposed-renewable-fuel-standards-2017-and-biomass-based-diesel.