BIO calls for US biofuels investment via EPA

The Biotechnology Industry Organisation (BIO) has urged the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to issue a final Tier 3 Motor Vehicle Emission and Fuel Standards rule that maximizes investment in, and adoption of, advanced biofuels.

Brent Erickson, executive VP of BIO’s industrial and environmental section, believes the EPA recognises the most ‘effective and efficient way to achieve the important goals of the proposed rule is to work to harmonise it with other policies affecting and regulating the transportation fuel sector throughout the country’.

He mentioned the likes of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards (CAFE) and California’s Low Emission Vehicle Programme as relevant bodies to work it alongside with.

‘BIO supports the proposed rule and believes that the final Tier 3 rule has the potential to encourage the continued development and commercialisation of all biofuels,’ Erickson says.

‘Encouraging biofuels, including higher blends of ethanol and drop-in biofuels, would help meet EPA’s overall goal in this rulemaking to address the impacts of motor vehicles and fuels on air quality and public health,’ he continues. ‘For instance, advanced drop-in biofuels have the same molecular make-up of traditional petroleum-based fuels, but they contain little or no sulfur and have significantly reduced greenhouse gases. In addition, ethanol combusts without producing air toxics, which are the main source of particulate matter.’

Erickson and BIO believe the EPA should be working to set the emissions test fuel to maximize investment and adoption of all biofuels, while also maximising the level of octane in the US fuel supply.

‘This action would help EPA meet one of its stated goals of this rulemaking to address the impacts of motor vehicles and fuels on air quality and public health,’ he adds.