EPA Delays Expanding Renewable Fuel Rule

Date: March 2, 2012

Source: News Room

The US EPA said it will delay plans to add a "renewable gasoline" category and several new feedstocks to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) as proposed in January while the agency takes time to consider negative comments it received about the changes. The proposal called for qualifying camelina oil, energy cane, giant reed and napiergrass as new sources of transportation fuel. EPA sees producers using camelina oil seeds to make naphtha, liquefied petroleum gas and renewable diesel, including jet fuel and heating oil. It said the grasses could be used to make naphtha, ethanol and renewable diesel, including jet and heating oil. The National Environmental Coalition on Invasive Species objected to the feedstocks, arguing none are native to the US and at least two have been shown to cause economic and environmental damage. EPA also planned to add renewable gasoline to five existing fuel types tracked by the RFS: cellulosic biofuel, biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuel, renewable fuel and cellulosic diesel. EPA said it would address the comments in a subsequent final action.

To learn more visit EPA's website on Renewable and Alternative Fuels: www.epa.gov/otaq/fuels/alternative-renewablefuels/.

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