NBB calls for stronger biodiesel, advanced biofuel volumes

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is significantly underestimating biodiesel’s capacity to deliver more advanced biofuel to US consumers, the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) says.

NBB has called in a public comment on the EPA to strengthen the biodiesel and overall advanced biofuel volumes under the proposed Renewable Volume Obligations (RVO) before they are finalised later this year.

The final rule will establish annual volumes for various categories of alternative fuels that must be blended nationwide under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

“We believe the evidence clearly shows that growing biodiesel volumes will help achieve this administration’s goals for strengthening the economy, reducing carbon emissions and other costly pollution, and diversifying and strengthening fuel markets that are now dangerously dependent on petroleum,” NBB wrote to the EPA in a letter accompanying the official comments filed.

“Unfortunately, this proposal, which calls for a biomass-based diesel volume of 2.1 billion gallons in 2018 and 4 billion gallons of overall advanced biofuels next year, fails to do so by severely underestimating the capacity for growth in the biodiesel and renewable diesel sector,” the letter reads.

Biodiesel and renewable diesel – a similar diesel alternative – fall under the biomass-based diesel category of the RFS, which is an advanced biofuel category intended to ensure that the policy also addresses the diesel fuel market, not just petrol.

Under the law, advanced biofuels must reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% compared to petroleum fuels.

The EPA proposal would establish a 2.1 billion gallon biomass-based diesel requirement in 2018, up only slightly from 2 billion gallons for 2017.

Citing unused capacity and data showing that biomass-based diesel consumption this year will significantly exceed 2.1 billion gallons, NBB is calling for at least 2.5 billion gallons for 2018.

The RFS – a bipartisan policy passed in 2005 and signed into law by President George W. Bush – requires increasing volumes of renewable fuels in the US fuel stream.

Substantially expanded in 2007, the law requires increasing volumes of advanced biofuels in the coming years.