Environmental Protection Agency Finalizes 2019 Renewable Fuel Standards

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced that it has finalized a rule establishing the mandated renewable fuel volumes under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program for 2019, and biomass-based diesel for 2020. Under the Clean Air Act, the EPA is required to set annual transportation biofuel RFS volumes in four categories: total, advanced, cellulosic, and biomass-based diesel. 
“Issuing the annual renewable volume obligations rule on time is extremely important to all stakeholders impacted by the Renewable Fuel Standard program,” said EPA Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler. 
The 2019 finalized rule includes the following actions:

• “Conventional” renewable fuel volumes, primarily met by corn ethanol, will be maintained at the implied 15-billion gallon target set by Congress for 2019.
• Advanced biofuel volumes for 2019 will increase by 630 million gallons over the 2018 standard.
• Cellulosic biofuel volumes for 2019 will increase by almost 130 million gallons over the 2018 standard.
• Biomass-based diesel volumes for 2020 will increase by 330 million gallons over the standard for 2019.  

To view the final rule in full, click here: https://www.epa.gov/renewable-fuel-standard-program/final-renewable-fuel-standards-2019-and-biomass-based-diesel-volume