EPA Requires 800 million Gallons of Biodiesel

WASHINGTON, DC – – Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it would require the domestic use of 800 million gallons of biodiesel in 2011. This is consistent with the renewable goals established in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA), which expanded the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS2) and specifically requires a renewable component in U.S. diesel fuel.

RFS2 provides specific volume requirements for Advanced Biofuels such as Cellulosic Biofuels, Biomass-based Diesel and undifferentiated Advanced Biofuels.  Today, biodiesel is the only widely, accepted, commercial scale Advanced Biofuel produced in the U.S. that meets the definition of Biomass-based Diesel and undifferentiated Advanced Biofuels under the RFS2 program.   According to the EPA, biodiesel produced from waste greases, animal fats and agricultural oils reduces greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by as much as 86 percent compared to petroleum diesel. The RFS2 program, consistent with the EPA’s announcement, requires a minimum of 800 million gallons of Biomass-based diesel, which included biodiesel, to be entered into the commercial marketplace in 2011.

‘We applaud EPA for this announcement and for reaffirming the common-sense notion that we should displace petroleum diesel fuel with Advanced Biofuels like biodiesel.  This notice demonstrates to all actors in the fuels marketplace that the volume goals for Biomass-based Diesel provided for by law in the RFS2 program will be met and that 800 million gallons of biodiesel must be used in 2011,” said Manning Feraci, Vice President of Federal Affairs for the National Biodiesel Board. 

Under the RFS2 program, the EPA is required to determine and publish the applicable percentage standards for each compliance year prior to November 30 of the previous year.  The notice published by EPA today sets in motion the process for EPA to finalize this regulatory rule and implement the RFS2 2011 renewable volume requirements. 

‘The U.S. biodiesel industry stands ready to provide the Advanced Biofuel that will allow this nation to meet the attainable renewable energy goals established by RFS2, reduce our dependence on petroleum and cut harmful greenhouse gas emissions,” concluded Feraci.

The National Biodiesel Board is the national trade association of the biodiesel industry and is the coordinating body for biodiesel research and development in the U.S.  NBB’s membership is comprised of state, national, and international feedstock and feedstock processor organizations, biodiesel producers, fuel marketers and distributors, and technology providers.

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Additional information about biodiesel is available online at www.biodiesel.org.