According to a report in Inside EPA Weekly Report (subscription required), the U.S. biotech industry is “warning that the current U.S. supply of cellulosic biofuels falls far short of Congress’ mandated levels for EPA’s renewable fuel standard (RFS), acknowledging that EPA will have to scale back the mandate but urging against delays in enforcing the RFS as refiners are requesting.” The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) own analysis says there are about 30 million gallons of production capacity but only 12 million gallons will actually be produced. BIO blames the Department of Energy’s (DOE) slow distribution of stimulus law loan guarantees. See also E&E’s article, “Producers warn they are going to fall far short of federal mandates.”
Under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS2), 100 million gallons of cellulosic biofuel are required in 2010. EPA is considering allowing other non-cellulosic advanced biofuels to meet the shortfall in 2010 if that advanced biofuel meets the minimum greenhouse gas reduction target of 50% for cellulosic biofuels. The oil and refining industry, however, opposes it saying that EPA should just wait until 2011 or later to implement what congress mandated in 2007.
Filed under: Advanced, Biofuels, Biotech, Blends, Cellulosic, Clean Tech, Climate Change, Corn, Enviroment, Ethanol, Food vs. Fuel, GHG, RFS | Tagged: BIO, Biotech, cello, Cellulosic, EPA, Growth Energy, Renewable Fuel, Renewable Fuel Standard, RFA, RFS
[...] New York Times looks into Next Generation Fuels Posted on October 15, 2009 by sugarcaneblog Today’s New York Times profiles cellulosic ethanol maker Coskata, which has a small-scale ethanol plant in Pennsylvania that converts wood chips and sugarcane bagasse into renewable fuels like ethanol. The article highlights how “across the country, companies are trying to produce biofuel without relying on food crops.” Of course, unlike the New York Times notes, there’s a fine line between food and non-food crops. But, nevertheless, the article brings a very nice graphic based on a report by the biotech industry (See Biotech Industry Admits Cellulosic Shortfall). [...]
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