The US Environmental Protection Agency on Monday said it will require that 13.65 billion gallons of renewable fuel be consumed in the US next year.
But the agency lowered its target for cellulosic biofuels to 6 million gallons, a reflection of the slow pace of the industry to produce commercially viable amounts of cellulosic fuels. Both moves were expected by the industry.
The EPA is required each year to specify the total amount of renewable fuels required to be introduced into the nation's transportation fuel supply under the Energy Independence and Security Act. The Renewable Fuel Standard is used to provide a ready market for fuels ranging from corn-based ethanol to fuel made from canola oil, algae and other materials.
RFS2 calls for a total renewables mandate rising to 36 billion gallons by 2022. The 2010 mandate was 12.95 billion gallons.
The RFS2 targets released Monday calls for 1.2 billion gallons of biomass-based diesel and 1.35 billion gallons of advanced biofuels. The total number, as well as the targets for biomass-based diesel and advanced biofuels, are the same as in the statute.
"By reducing the standard for cellulosic biofuels, EPA is accurately reflecting the difficulties cellulosic biofuel technologies have encountered in obtaining the capital needed to fully commercialize," Bob Dinneen, president of the Renewable Fuels Association said in a statement. "However, being aware of this fact, EPA should have been and must be careful to keep cellulosic biofuel targets ambitious so as to stimulate the kind of investment these technologies need to finish commercialization."
The RFS2 requires that about 8% of all transportation fuel consumed in the US in 2011 come from renewable sources.
But the agency lowered its target for cellulosic biofuels to 6 million gallons, a reflection of the slow pace of the industry to produce commercially viable amounts of cellulosic fuels. Both moves were expected by the industry.
The EPA is required each year to specify the total amount of renewable fuels required to be introduced into the nation's transportation fuel supply under the Energy Independence and Security Act. The Renewable Fuel Standard is used to provide a ready market for fuels ranging from corn-based ethanol to fuel made from canola oil, algae and other materials.
RFS2 calls for a total renewables mandate rising to 36 billion gallons by 2022. The 2010 mandate was 12.95 billion gallons.
The RFS2 targets released Monday calls for 1.2 billion gallons of biomass-based diesel and 1.35 billion gallons of advanced biofuels. The total number, as well as the targets for biomass-based diesel and advanced biofuels, are the same as in the statute.
"By reducing the standard for cellulosic biofuels, EPA is accurately reflecting the difficulties cellulosic biofuel technologies have encountered in obtaining the capital needed to fully commercialize," Bob Dinneen, president of the Renewable Fuels Association said in a statement. "However, being aware of this fact, EPA should have been and must be careful to keep cellulosic biofuel targets ambitious so as to stimulate the kind of investment these technologies need to finish commercialization."
The RFS2 requires that about 8% of all transportation fuel consumed in the US in 2011 come from renewable sources.
