EPA: New Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS2) only in early 2010

According to a Reuters report, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to issue final rules on revisions to the Renewable Fuel Standard program, called RFS2, early next year. Reuters’s Scott DiSavino cites an “EPA spokesperson” in his report but does not offer any specifics, including how regulated parties should handle the transition period.

Bob Dinneen of the Renewable Fuels Association, a corn-ethanol lobby group, told Reuters his group believed the EPA hoped to have final rules in January.  Before the RFS2 rules can be published, the rules must undergo interagency review under the auspices of the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB). That process has not yet started. Also, Congress has a 60-day review period prior to the RFS2 becoming final.

The Renewable Fuel Standard program, which became law in 2005, ensures gasoline sold in the United States contains a minimum volume of renewable fuel, like ethanol and biodiesel. The new program, RFS2, which was part of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, will increase the volume of renewable fuel required to be blended into gasoline from 9 billion gallons in 2008 to 36 billion gallons by 2022. The push toward green fuels has been a boon to U.S. grain markets, since most ethanol in the United States is made from corn and biodiesel can be made from soybeans. RFS2 will also expand coverage over diesel and non-road fuels and established greenhouse gas reduction thresholds.

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  1. [...] on EPA’s final rule, which may be completed by late January 2010. For background, see “EPA: New Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS2) only in early 2010“ Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)EPA: New Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS2) [...]

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