EPA Releases Ethanol Standards

“The proposal seeks to put the RFS program on a steady path forward – ensuring the continued growth of renewable fuels while recognizing the practical limits on ethanol blending, called the ethanol ‘blend wall.’ The blend wall refers to the difficulty in incorporating increasing amounts of ethanol into the transportation fuel supply at volumes exceeding those achieved by the sale of nearly all gasoline as E10 (gasoline containing 10 percent ethanol by volume). Although the production of renewable fuels has been increasing, overall gasoline consumption in the United States is less than anticipated when Congress established the program by law in 2007. In order to address that issue, EPA is proposing – to use existing authorities under the law – to reduce the advanced biofuel and total renewable fuel standards for 2014. The agency also is proposing to maintain the same volume for biomass-based diesel for 2014 and 2015 as was adopted for 2013. Once the proposal is published in the Federal Register, it will be open to a 60 day public comment period.”

To read the full EPA Report, visit http://www.epa.gov/oms/fuels/renewablefuels/documents/420f13048.pdf.