By Claudia Assis
A draft EPA proposal would cut the mandate to 15.22 billion gallons of renewable fuels blended into gasoline in 2014 rather than the 18.15 billion gallons established by a 2007 law, the articles said.
Under the federal Renewable Fuel Standard, refiners must blend a specific amount of renewable fuels into their gasoline each year. Gasoline must contain at least 10% renewables.
The volumes increase each year but refiners and other industry representatives have said they are concerned about hitting the “blend wall” — eventually, due to declining gasoline demand and other factors, it would be impossible to absorb all the biofuels mandated and not exceed the 10%, which could harm some engines, particularly those in older vehicles.
The agency also determines how much of it comes from conventional corn-based ethanol and how much from other biofuels, such as biodiesel. The mandate calls for 36 billion gallons of biofuel a year by 2022. The mandate was intended to cut down on greenhouse-gas emissions and spur biofuel technologies. Supporters of the renewable fuel standards are sure to fight back.
Follow Claudia Assis on Twitter @ClaudiaAssisMW
Follow Energy Ticker on Twitter @EnergyTicker