EPA plans to expand biofuel standard

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to increase the “percentage standards” for biofuels next year. The proposal would increase the allowable amount of organic-based biofuel within blended products, such as biodiesel.

The agency proposes to mandate the blending of 15.2 billion gallons of renewable fuel into the U.S. fuel supply, while also increasing the proposed mandate for advanced biofuels by 48%, to 2 billion gallons, as part of the agency’s Renewable Fuel Standard program (RFS2).

This move is being welcomed in several corners of the trucking industry, as many see it as a way to make diesel engine technology cleaner and more environmentally friendly.

“The growing use of advanced biofuels and renewable diesel fuel underscores the expanding role clean diesel technology will continue to play as we move to a more sustainable energy future,” said Allen Schaeffer, executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum (DTF).

“The proposed increase to one billion gallons of biomass-based diesel and two billion gallons of advanced biofuels will play a significant role in reducing emissions and our dependence on foreign oil production,” he added. “Today’s diesel engine and equipment makers are increasingly welcoming high-quality, bio-based fuels into most diesel engines in blends of 5% to 20%. The next generation of renewable diesel fuels only further enhances the benefits of clean diesel technology.”