EPA Announces 2008 Renewable Fuels Standard
The U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency on Nov. 27 set a new renewable fuels
standard (RFS) of 4.66 percent to meet the 2005 Energy Policy Act's
mandate that at least 5.4 billion gallons of renewable fuels be blended
into transportation gasoline in 2008.
Based on the standard, each party determines the minimum volume of
renewable fuel that it must ensure is used in its motor vehicle fuel.
The standard for 2007 was 4.02 percent, equating to roughly 4.7 billion
gallons. The overall volume target increases every year, reaching 7.5
billion gallons in 2012. The Energy Policy Act requires EPA to annually
determine the standard -- which applies to refiners, importers and
non-oxygenate blenders of gasoline -- by Nov. 30 for the following
year.
The RFS program, which formally began last September, creates new
markets for farm products, increases energy security, and promotes the
development of advanced technologies that would greatly expand
renewable and alternative fuels. It also serves as one of the many
pieces to help inform the greenhouse gas regulation that EPA and
federal partners are developing under an executive order issued by
President Bush in May.
For more information on the RFS Notice of 2008 Requirement, go to: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/renewablefuels.