Biotech Updates

U.S.A. Finalizes Mandated Biofuel Volumes for 2013

August 7, 2013

EPA Regulatory Announcements: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/fuels/renewablefuels/documents/420f13042.pdf http://www.epa.gov/otaq/fuels/renewablefuels/documents/rfs-2013-standards-final-rule-8-6-13.pdf

News article: http://www.ethanolproducer.com/articles/10109/epa-finalizes-2013-rfs-volumes-extends-compliance-deadline

In the United States, 16.55 billion gallons of renewable fuels will be required to be blended into the country's fuel supply for 2013, according to volume requirements for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) finalized by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Biofuels will make up 9.74 percent of U.S. transportation fuel with this volume requirement. The standard for biomass-based diesel is set at 1.28 billion gallons, accounting for 1.13 percent of the fuel market. The requirement for advanced biofuels is 2.75 billion gallons, or 1.62 percent of transportation fuel. The cellulosic standard is 6 million gallons, which equates to 0.004 percent of transportation fuel. The remaining 12.514 billion gallons of the mandate can be met by any renewable biofuel.

The EPA rule seeks to reduce the targets for cellulosic and advanced biofuels based on current production. EPA has given refineries and importers four more months to comply with the 2013 targets.