WASHINGTON (June 2, 2015) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed raising volume requirements under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for biomass-based diesel, cellulosic biofuel and advanced biofuel.
Biomass-based diesel requirements will increase from 2014's 1.63 billion gallons to 1.7 billion gallons in 2015; 1.8 billion gallons in 2016; and 1.9 billion gallons in 2017, according to the EPA's proposal issued May 29.
Requirements for cellulosic biofuel will rise from 33 million gallons in 2014 to 106 million gallons in 2015 and 206 million in 2016. For advanced biofuel, requirements will go from 2.68 billion gallons in 2014 to 2.9 billion in 2015 and 3.4 billion in 2016. The EPA did not issue requirements for cellulosic or advanced biofuel in 2017.
“After extensive outreach and dialogue with the agricultural community, biofuel producers and the oil and gas industry, EPA is proposing to establish 2014 standards at levels that reflect the actual amount of domestic biofuel use in that year, and standards for 2015 and 2016 (and 2017 for biodiesel) that increase steadily over time,” the EPA said.